About 30 suspects, some of whom are said to be sons and relatives of policemen in the Falomo Police Barracks, Ikoyi, Lagos state, have been remanded for engaging in cultism and robbery.
The suspects, aged between 18 and 38, were reportedly picked up between December 13 and 14 by a team of policemen who raided the barracks and its environs.
While 13 of them were brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 17 others were arraigned in the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on four counts bordering on the offences.
The 13 suspects arraigned before magistrate P.A. Adekomaya of Igbosere Magistrates’ Court are Confidence Oyegbulom, Abubakar Abdullahi, Gabriel Owolo, Obasesan Bassey, Akin John, Simon Sunday, Nana Antwi and Bitrus Markus.
Others are Akeem Olusegun, Afees Obakunle, Adedakun Samuel, Paul Ekeh and Femi Emmanuel.
Whereas, the 17 defendants arraigned in Tinubu Magistrates’ Court are Dekison Lukman, Augustine Abhulimen, Jackson Uhunona, Tope Bamidele, Loyi Dajen, Bitrius Mislon, Emmanuel Inuhu, Nicholas Abhuliman and Sanni Musa.
Others are Godwin Joshua, Jafet Lukman, Abdullahi Usman, Danladi Istifanus, Aminu Yahaya, Raymond Ishola, Mark Kangtei and Godwin Liberty.
The Divisional Police Officer of the Ikoyi division, W/SP Aishat Haruna, had reportedly directed the team to swoop on the suspects after receiving complaints that they usually terrorised residents of the area.
They were also said to have attempted to rob one Peter Teneri, stabbing him with knives and broken bottles in the back before he was rescued.
According to a police source, “Majority of them are children and brothers of policemen living in the barracks. They are notorious for disturbing the public peace and the DPO said he would not tolerate such any longer.”
The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges which according to the police, contravened sections 409, 41, 164 (a) and 310 (c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.
The charges read in part, “That you (the suspects), and others now at large on December 13, 2015, at about 11pm along Bourdillon Road by Falomo Police Barracks, Ikoyi, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit: attempted robbery and management of unlawful societies known as Eiye and Aiye confraternities.
“That you and others now at large, did attempt to rob one Peter Teneri and assault him with fist blows, broken bottles and knives which caused him bodily harm.”
At the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, the presiding magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted bail to the 17 suspects brought before him in the sum of N50, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.
While Magistrate Adekomaya at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court admitted the 13 others to bail in the same amount with one surety each in like sum.
Adekomaya slated the next sitting on the case for January 28, 2016 while Owolabi adjourned till February 11, 2016; both held that the defendants be remanded pending the time their bail conditions would be perfected.
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