On Friday, a Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State’s Yaba district ordered the remand of 11 suspected cult members for alleged cultism and murder in the state.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy, membership in an unlawful society, and murdering three members of another cult group before Chief Magistrate O. Y Adefope.
According to the prosecutor, Haruna Magaji, the cultists gathered in the Ikorodu area of the state on May 23, 2023, planned and carried out an ambush against members of the Aiye Confraternity in the Ogolontoto area of the state, and allegedly murdered three rival members, Saheed, Ope, and one David.
He said one of the suspects, identified simply as Enigbokan, was arrested, adding that he led policemen to arrest 10 other suspects linked to the crime.
Magaji told the court that the offences contravened Section 2 (3)(a)(b)(d)(e) of the Unlawful Society and Cultism Laws of Lagos State 2021.
The charge read, “That you, Richard Enigbokan, 24, Ricky Dickson, 24, Ani Daniel, 24, John Samuel, 24, Abiodun Rasaq, 24, Olawale Olabode, 24, David Okunsanmi, 23, Victor Ogbolu, 23, Njoku Monday, 23, Segun Adeniran, 22, and Moshood Olawale, 22, on May 26, 2023, at Majidun/Ogolanto, Ikorodu, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully belong and manage a secret society known as Eiye Confraternity, knowing it to be unlawful and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2 (3)(a)(b)(d)(e) of the Unlawful Society and Cultism Laws of Lagos State 2021.”
The charge was read to the defendants but their pleas were not taken.
Magaji requested that the defendants be remanded pending the completion of the investigation.
The Magistrate remanded the defendants to the correctional centre pending legal advice from the DPP and adjourned the case till August 11, 2023.