Court orders remand of teenagers over alleged cult membership, theft

Appeal court

Court orders remand of teenagers over alleged cult membership, theft

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court  on Friday ordered the remand of seven teenagers, including 14-year-old, who allegedly belonged to a secret cult and illegally displayed dangerous weapons in public.

The suspects were also charged with stealing phones.

They are Ismail Ayantola, 18; Olayemi Quam, 19; Ridwan Saka, 17; Ayuba Ajao, 17; Opeyemi Ademola, 18, and a 15-year-old and the 14-year-old.

Chief Magistrate K. O. Ogundare did not take their pleas but said that they should be kept th

e Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Ogundare directed the police to return the case file to the DPP for the advice, and adjourned the case until April 13 for mention.

The police arraigned  the defendants on a six-count charge of  conspiracy, membership of  unlawful society, display of dangerous weapons, stealing, wilful damage and breach of public the peace.

The prosecutor, Insp. Edet Akadu, alleged  that they committed the offences on March 2 on Daniel Street, Morgan Street and Olorunshola Street, all in Mushin, Lagos State.

Akadu said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by displaying dangerous weapons such as cutlasses in public.

“The defendants  engaged in a violent street fight and damaged property worth millions and snatched phones from people,” he said.

The prosecutor added that the defendants belonged to an unlawful society known as Pointer Boys and Kasseri Boys confraternity.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 411, 43, 305, 53, 287  and 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)