Nine men were on Thursday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly engaging in cultism, breach of peace and stealing phones and money from passers-by in Apapa.
The nine men were identified as Ibrahim Isiaka (24), Okafor Joshua (20), Oyeniyi Taiwo (35), Ambali Wasiu (19), Godspower Samuel (20), Tajudeen Abiodun (19), Abdullahi Ahmed (20), Adeniyi Adeoye (26) and Jadesola Hammed (35).
The prosecutor, Sergeant Kolade Tedunjade told the court that the defendants committed the offence on May 23, 2018 at about 4pm am at Railway Line, Ijora Badia, Apapa, Lagos.
Tedunjade said, “The defendants conspired together to manage unlawful society by committing violence as well as disturbing and encouraging the disturbance of peace.
“The defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by smoking weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.”
The prosecutor added that they had in their possession two daggers, quantities of weed suspected to be India hemp, cutlass and other dangerous weapons.
She also said that the defendants threatened violence by instilling fear on passers-by and disposing them of their belongings such as money and phone.
“The defendants unlawfully damaged windscreen of motorists,” she said.
According to her, the offences are punishable under sections 412, 56(b), 168(b), 329, 287 and 350 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge brought against them.
In her ruling, Magistrate A.K Tella granted all the defendants bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
The surety, according to the Magistrate, must be a blood relation to the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Defendants. Each surety must furnish the court with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case till June 7, 2018 for mention.
