Four men dock over alleged cultism, cell phone theft

Four men were on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over alleged cultism and stealing of a cell phone valued at N40, 000.

The accused- Habeeb Adio, 24; Dare Damilare, 27; Olasunkanmi Buhari,34 and Eze Joseph, 28- are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and belonging to a secret cult.

They, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

The prosecutor, Insp. Mathew Akhaluode, told the court that the accused committed the offences with some other persons still at large on April 26 at 9:00p.m. in Ifako, Gbagada area of Lagos.

Akhaluode said that the accused belonged to an unlawful society called “Eiye Confraternity’’.

He said that the accused also stole an Itel cell phone valued at N40, 000, property of Mr Olarenwaju Bakare, the complainant.

“The accused were caught holding their meeting at Ifako after they had stolen the complainant’s cell phone,” Akhaluode said.

The offences contravened Sections 42 (a) 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a seven-year imprisonment for stealing, while Section 42 prescribed three years jail term for unlawful society.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Adetunji, granted each of the accused bail of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adetunji said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case until July 4 for mention.