12 pupils arraigned for cultism

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday brought 12 students of Oduduwa Junior Secondary School, Mushin, before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court, for alleged cultism.

They are Vincent Ukuade (17), Shuaib Dosumu (17), Muiz Alawok (17), Lateef Popoola (17), Akisu Ayinde (17), Solomon Agidotan (17), Afalobi Omotoyosi (16), Segun Folorunsho (16), Nurudeen Okeowo (17), Taiwo John (17), Victoria Afolabi (15) and Kusoro Oluwdamilare (17).

The defendants were arraigned before Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and membership of Gangsters’ Confraternity, an unlawful society.

Prosecuting police officer, ASP Simeon Imohnwa, told the court that the pupils committed the offence at 12:30p.m. on September 15, 2017. Imohnwa said a member of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LSNC), Mushin, Jacob Adedeji, reported to the police that he saw the defendants displaying knives and two cutlasses on their way to attack some pupils of Igbo-Owu Secondary School, Mushin.

According to him, the defendants confessed that they belonged to Gangsters’ Confraternity. The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections, 42, 51 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and punishable under same.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defendants’ counsel, led by Mr. C.C. Igwe, asked for their bail in liberal terms, pointing out that they were all minors.

Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi agreed and granted each defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. “One of the sureties must be a relation and gainfully employed,” the Chief Magistrate ruled.

She said the defendants should be remanded at the Borstal Training Institution for minors at Adigbe, Abeokuta, pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions. The case was adjourned till October 25.