A 31-year-old man, Abayomi Salau, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court over illegal possession of a firearm.
The Prosecutor, ASP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendant was arrested by police patrolmen attached to Ebute-Metta Police Divisional Headquarters on Dec. 31, 2020.
Ajayi said the team, while on patrol within Ondo Street, Ebute- metta, intercepted the defendant who was in possession of a locally-made cut-to-size pistol and an unexpended cartridge.
“When questioned on how he got the pistol, the defendant could not give a satisfactory account of how he came about the weapon, which led to his arrest,’’ she said.
The prosecutor said that during an investigation, the defendant confessed to belonging to a secret cult known as ‘Eiye Confraternity’.
The defendant, of Ebute-Metta in Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, illegal possession of the firearm and belonging to a secret society.
Ajayi said the offence contravened sections 42(a), 330 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Ajibade, granted the defendant N100,000 bail with one reliable surety in the like sum.
Ajibade said the surety must be a blood relative with proof of tax payment and verification of address.
She adjourned the case to March 15, for further mention. (NAN)
