Three suspected cult members, who allegedly had a locally-made pistol and five cartridges in their possession, were on Thursday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
The defendants are Dayo Sanni, 23; Amos Ozei, 25; and Oladejo Owolabi, 38.
They are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society, and unlawful display of arms in public.
The Prosecutor, ASP Roman Unuigbe, told the court that the defendants committed the offences at 5.43 p.m. on March 5, at Shonle area of Ikorodu, in Lagos State.
He told the court that the defendants, with some other people who were at large, belonged to an unlawful society popularly called “Aiye” confraternity.
Unuigbe said that the defendants had convened and attended a meeting of the unlawful society, which was where they were arrested.
“My lord, we got an information of the meeting that happens once a month; the Lagos anti-cult unit raided it and arrested the defendants with about 15 other people.
“Ozei and Owolabi were arrested with a gun and five cartridges in their possession,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first defendant, Sanni, was charged on the counts of conspiracy and belonging to an unlawful society alongside the other defendants.
The second and third defendants, Ozei and Owolabi were, however, charged with all four counts.
The offences contravene Sections 411, 42 (a) and 51 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
NAN reports that Section 42 stipulates a three-year jail term for offences relating to unlawful society, while that of display of arms stipulates two years.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were granted a bail of N100,000 with two sureties each, in like sum.
Chief Magistrate Peter Ojo said the sureties must be gainfully employed, with evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Ojo adjourned the case until May 3, for mention.(NAN)
