LAGOS ARRAIGNS 70 SUSPECTED CULTISTS
The Lagos State Government on Thursday arraigned 70 suspected
cultists before Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule-Amzat of the Ogudu Magistrate
Court for conspiracy to commit felony and for holding a meeting of an unlawful
society suspected to be AIYE Confraternity.
The 70 suspected cultists, with ages ranging between 19 and 40
years, were arraigned on a three-count charge by the Directorate of Public
Prosecution in the State Ministry of Justice.
They were earlier arrested by officers of the State Police command
who acted promptly on a tipoff given by members of the public on 23rd February,
2018 at about 2am, where the suspected cultists at Elemoro area of Ajah were
caught holding a meeting of the unlawful society of AIYE confraternity.
In count one, the defendants were accused of conspiring to
commit felony contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law,
Cap CH. C17 Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
In count two, the defendants were alleged to belong to an
unlawful society suspected to be AIYE confraternity, an offence contrary to
Section 42(a) and punishable under Section 42 (b) of the Criminal Law, Cap.
CH.17 Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, while in count three, they were said to
have attended the meeting of the said unlawful group, contrary to the laws of
the State.
After the charges were read to them, the 70 defendants pleaded
not guilty, while their lawyer urged the court to grant his clients bail on the
ground that the offence for which they were charged are bailable.
In response, the prosecution team led by Mr. Yakub Oshoala, a
Director from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos State Ministry
of Justice, did not oppose the bail application, but urged the court to remand
the defendants in prison custody pending the satisfaction of their bail
conditions.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Sule Amzat granted bail to the
defendants in the sum of N100,000 each and two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, according to the Magistrate, must be responsible
residents, in gainful employment with evidence of paying tax for three years in
Lagos State and one of which must be a blood relation of each of the
defendants.
The matter was adjourned for trial on dates starting from 11th
April 2018.
Speaking on the development, the Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, said the State Government would
not relent until cultism and other social vices are stamped out in the State.
Kazeem said the State Government, through his office, had
commenced partnership with the State Police Command in line with the directive
of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to stamp out all forms of cultism
and crime in Lagos State, especially in the Ajah area of the State.
“To this end, the arraignment of the 70 suspects will serve as a
deterrent to those who may want to engage in the act of cultism,” he said.
LAGOS ARRAIGNS 70 SUSPECTED CULTISTS
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