The Nation Newspaper

Tag: alleged cultism

  • 18-year-old, others remanded for alleged cultism, robbery

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the remand in prison custody of an 18-year-old girl, Gift Emmanuel, for alleged cultism and robbery.

    Remanded with her are Saviour Augustine, 22, Nnana Peter, 19, Friday Daniel, 20, Precious Ubani, 18, and Kwame Atisa, 18.

    The suspects are alleged to have belonged to and participated in the activities of a cult called ‘Degbam’.

    They allegedly terrorised residents of Ojoto, Nanka and Iloabuchi streets, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

    The suspects are also accused of robbing the inhabitants of their phones while armed with pistols.

    A document obtained from the court alleged that the suspects had in their possession one revolver pistol with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

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    The six-count charge of robbery, unlawful possession of arms and cult involvement and participation was not read to them, hence they did not take any plea.

    They reportedly carried out the alleged crimes at Anozie waterside and Eagle Island, Port Harcourt on January 9.

    Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter and ordered the parties to file written addresses on whether the court could grant bail to the suspects or not.

    He ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter till February 21 for adoption of written addresses.

  • Court remands four for alleged cultism, kidnap

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday ordered the remand in prison custody of four persons for alleged cultism and kidnap.

    The suspects are Barizaa Teeiye, 25, Emmanuel Osaroejiji, 27, Nale Dumbor, 34 and Bari Jonah, 31.

    They are accused of belonging to a cult, ‘Degbam’, and participating in its activities.

    They allegedly kidnapped Chibuike Ezenkwe while armed with locally-made pistols and other weapons.

    Read also: Court remands four for alleged cultism, kidnap

    They allegedly carried out their act at Onne in Eleme Local Government on May 29, 2018.

    The three-count charges of kidnapping, secret cult and similar activities were not read to them because the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, hence they did not take any plea.

    Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

    He adjourned the case till February 7 for DPP’s advice.

  • Man arraigned for alleged cultism

    A 22-year-old man, Seun Matthew, yesterday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court for alleged membership of a cult and possession of a stolen phone.

    Matthew pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecutor Lucky Ihiehie said the accused committed the offence on December 3 at First Bank roundabout, Yaba, Lagos.

    He said the accused had confessed to the police that he is a member of the ‘Eiye Confraternity’.

    Ihiehie alleged that a stolen phone was found in his possession.

    Magistrate E. Kubeinje granted the accused N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned till January 14.

     

  • Police arrest three AAU students for alleged cultism

    Security agents suspected to be Anti-Cultism Squad yesterday invaded the campus of the Ondo

    State-owned Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) in Akungba-Akoko following alleged cult activities on the campus.

    Sources said 15 police officers stormed the university campus around 4 a.m.

    It was learnt that they forced their way into the male hostel, following the refusal of the students to allow them in.

    The students were initially said not to be sure of the identities of the policemen, thinking they were robbers.

    During the encounter, it was learnt that three students were arrested.

    But police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the command arrested three students.

    He said the police acted on a tip-off from some individuals on the operation of some suspected cultists on the campus.

    According to him, Police Commissioner Gbenga Adeyanju directed his men to the university based on information of alleged cult activities on the campus.

    Joseph said: “The police commissioner directed our men to prevent a crisis on the university campus and the police officers, who were mainly anti-cult officers, went to the school and acted in accordance with the directive of the police chief.”

    The police spokesman said the three students had been released after the police discovered that they were innocent.

    He assured the public that investigations would continue on the alleged cult activities by some students in the university.

  • Six arraigned for alleged cultism

    Six men were yesterday arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State for alleged involvement in cultism.

    Police prosecutor Caleb Leranmo alleged that the defendants committed the offence about 10am at Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government.

    He gave their names as Adewale Akosile, 30; Jimoh Lukman, 25; Amusa Jamiu, 25; Timothy Thomas, 23; Sefun Akinola, 26 and Ojo Akinola, 20.

    Leranmo said the defendants unlawfully paraded themselves as members of “Ashanti Secret Society”, terrorising the community.

    He said the offence contravened Section 4(1) of the Secret Cult (Abolition and Prohibition) Laws of Ekiti State, 2006.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty. Their counsel, Mr. Timilehin Omotoso, prayed the court to grant his clients bail, promising they would not jump bail.

    The Chief Magistrate, Aderopo Adegboye, granted the defendants bail at N200,000 and two sureties.

    He adjourned the case till October 27 for further hearing.

  • Female undergraduate, others held for alleged cultism

    A Higher National Diploma (HND 1) student of Mass Communication at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Oreoluwa Adedamola, and nine others have been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command.

    Oreoluwa was said to have been arrested on Sunday August 29, 2015 at Ifo, a suburb of Ogun during a routine check carried out by the operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

    She was paraded alongside other ‘cultists’ on Tuesday at the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta. The suspects were said to be members of Eiye Confraternity.

    The duo and eight others were allegedly on their way to conduct the initiation of new members at Ifo when they were intercepted by the police.

    A pistol was said to have been discovered inside Oreoluwa’s bag during a search by SARS operatives.

    The 20 year-old student was said to have denied ownership of the gun, claiming that Ibrahim Kelani, 37, another suspect held by the police, was the owner.

    A highly-placed source who spoke in confidence said Oreoluwa explained to the police that she was not a cultist. “A candlelight procession was held on August 29, 2015 in honour of Oreoluwa’s boyfriend called Akeem Ogun, who recently died in a car crash in Panseke area of Abeokuta.

    “Shortly after the procession, one Ibrahim Kelani who is a friend to the late Akeem asked Oreoluwa to accompany him to a birthday party at Ifo. On their way, Ibrahim collected Oreoluwa’s bag and dropped a pistol inside it as decoy to beat security check on the road.

    “He then placed the bag on his chest and thought that policemen would not search it because it is a woman’s bag. Unfortunately, the bag was searched and the pistol was found inside it. She and Ibrahim are currently being held at the police headquarters and I think she is only paying for her indiscretion. ”

    The spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulmajid Ali, had directed that the suspects be handed over to the SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta for further investigation and prosecution.