The police on Monday arraigned seven alleged cult members before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly damaging eight vehicles with dangerous weapons and stealing valuables at Apapa.
The suspected cultists, Akpan Ernest (20), Noah Ezien (18), Ibrahim Hammed (22), Idris Babatunde (21), Kabiru Ishola (21), Bashiru Sulaimon (18) and Chika Sunday (29), are facing a fifteen-count charge bothering on conspiracy, breach of peace, stealing and damaging values with offensive weapons.
The prosecutor, Inspector Rosemary Ehimegbe told the court that the defendants committed the offences on May 1, 2018 at about 9:30am at Ugbowankwo Street, Ajegunle, Apapa.
Ehimegbe said, “The defendants belong to an unlawful society without clear defined names with the purpose of killing, injuring and encouraging the killing or injuring of any person and also encouraging the damage of any property.”
She said the defendants damaged a Toyota Sienna car with registration number GGG 344 DU; a Toyota Camry car with registration number AKD 567 DZ; one Honda Pilot car with registration number AAA 406 DY belonging to one Nwabisi Lucky, and one Honda CRV with registration number KRD 416 XH, belonging to one Solomon Oregbeyiwa; among others.
The suspects were also accused of stealing one Samsung android phone valued at 95,000, and a wrist watch valued at N30,000 property of one Odugbo Nnamdi.
According to the prosecutor, the offences are punishable under section 411, 412, 56 (1a), 52(2), 54, 44(4), 40 (2b&c), 42(b), 45(1&2), 51, 287 and 350 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.
Magistrate O.S Abioye granted the defendants bail in the sum of N300,000 each with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be gainfully employed with proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Abioye added that one of the sureties must be a blood relation to the defendants.
He adjourned the case till