Lagos Police Docks 10 Suspected Cultists

The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday, arraigned eight suspected members of the Supreme Eiye confraternity alongside two Odu’a Peoples Congress (OPC) members before an Igbosere Magistrates' Court for alleged theft and murder.

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The accused persons which comprised Azeez Akintunde, 28; Akeem Adebayo, 31; Akeem Abudu, 31; Kamoru Adeniyi, 35; Rasheed Ambali, 32; Notik Awotugashe, 23; Jamiu Sule, 25; Gbenga Adebanjo, 26; Akinsoye Solanke, 27; and Yusuf Ayoola, 28 are standing trial for various count charge before Magistrate, Mrs O. Olanipekun.

Akintunde, in addition to a charge of murder, is also tried for conspiracy and running an unlawful society, while Adebayo, Abudu, Adeniyi, Ambali, Awotugashe, Sule, Adebanjo and Solanke are charged with conspiracy, managing an unlawful society and unlawful assembly.

Ayoola on the other hand is facing charges of conspiracy, stealing and willful damage to property alongside Ambali.
ASP Charles Odii, the police prosecutor told the court that the suspected cultists with others still at large committed the offences on December 27, 2012 at Imota close to Ikorodu, Lagos.
According to him, Akintunde, shot and killed one Saka Abudu during an argument, adding that Adebayo, Abudu, Adeniyi, Ambali, Awotugashe, Sule, Adebanjo and Solanke belonged to another secret society known as the "Eiye" confraternity.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused also took part in an unlawful assembly of the cult at Ikorodu which caused great fear and panic among residents. He said Ambali and Ayoola went on a looting spree and stole a laptop and a home theatre, both valued at N295,000, property of one John Aimofumen.
Odii said that Ambali and Ayoola also unlawfully and willfully damaged Aimofumen's plasma TV, refrigerator and generator, valued at N475,000.

The prosecutor informed the court that the offences were contrary to Sections 41, 44(4), 221, 285 (5),(a), 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate ordered that Akintunde should be remanded for 30 days in prison custody pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and granted Adebayo, Abudu, Adeniyi, Awotugashe, Sule, Adebanjo and Solanke bail of N250,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Ambali and Ayoola were also granted bail in the sum of N500, 000  each with two sureties each in like sum.