Court remands 2 over alleged cultism

An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court on Monday, remanded a 26-year-old man, Olayinka Abiodun and Ajayi Tobiloba, 28, over alleged cultism.

The Prosecutor, Insp Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime in Jan, at Aba-Iyagani Junction, Ile-Ife.

Osanyintuyi said that the defendants conspired to commit felony to wit, cultism, unlawful possession and conduct likely and going armed.

He said that the defendants paraded themselves to be members of a secret cult, the Eiye confraternity and disturbed the peace of the neighbourhood.

According to him, the defendants had in their possession wraps of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp and other dangerous drugs which they were smoking.

Osanyintuyi said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner that can cause breach of the public peace, by smoking substance suspected to be weeds in the public area.

The Prosecutor said that the defendants conspired to commit felony by attacking and dispersing workers at Ife City Grammar School, Ile-Ife.

He stated that the defendants robbed people working on a project at Ife City Grammar School by dispossessing them of their valuable items.

Osanyintuyi explained that the offenced contravened sections: 62, 71,249(d), 401, 402, 430 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge of conspiracy, cultism, unlawful possession, breach of peace, smoking and armed robbery.

The Defence Counsel, Mrs Sidikat Salawu and Mr Paul Oyeboade, pleaded for the bail of the defendants respectfully in most Liberal terms.

They pledged that they would not jump bail and would provide responsible sureties.

Magistrate Abosede Sarumi asked their lawyers to come with a formal application.

Sarumi ordered for the remand of the defendants in Ile-Ife Nigeria Correctional Service pending the presentation of the formal application for their bail.

She adjourned the case until July 8, for mention.