A 27-year-old mechanic, Ahmed Ibrahim, on Friday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly belonging to a cult.
Ibrahim, who resides in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and belonging to an unlawful society.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, ASP Rita Mommoh, told the court that the defendant committed the offences with some others, still at large, on May 30 at 8.30 p.m. at Arowojobe Street, Bayeku, Ikorodu.
Mommoh said that the defendant was caught by a vigilante group while he was taking the oath of allegiance to the secret cult known as ‘Eiye Confraternity’.
She said that the defendant was handed over to the Police while his accomplices escaped.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two other defendants, Seyi Segun, 20 and Raymond Saheed, 25 were also arraigned on Friday at the Ogudu Court for also belonging to Eiye Confraternity and conspiracy.
Momoh said that Segun committed the offences on Aug. 27, at about 11.00 p.m. at Eyita in Ikorodu while Saheed committed the offence on Aug. 14 by 12.00 a.m. at Ajah area of Lagos.
While Segun was caught by the Police on patrol as he and his members were gathered, Eyita was caught while trying to flee the scene but his members were able to escape.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 411 and 42 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 42 (a) stipulates a three-year jail term for belonging to an unlawful society while 411 carries two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.
The Magistrate, Mrs O.M. Ajayi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Ajayi adjourned the three cases until Oct. 13 for mention. (NAN)
