Three men were arraigned in a Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ebute-Metta on Monday, facing serious charges linked to alleged cult activities in the Mushin area of Lagos. The accused, Wasiu Okanlawon (36), Kehinde Kareem (34), and Hammed Olatunji (42), are reportedly members of the infamous Aiye Confraternity, a group known for its involvement in violent and unlawful activities.
The charges against the trio include conspiracy, causing grievous harm, creating public panic, and being part of an unlawful society. According to the police prosecutor, Superintendent Jimoh Joseph, the men, along with others who are still at large, were involved in a series of events that led to significant unrest in the Mushin community.
“The defendants conspired to commit these crimes, and their actions have caused significant distress in the community,” Joseph stated during the court proceedings.
He explained that the incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on August 5, 2024, on Cardoso Street, Olosha, in the Mushin area. The men allegedly attacked a resident, identified only as Rilwan, with machetes and other dangerous weapons, leaving him with severe injuries.
“The victim sustained severe wounds and is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital,” Joseph added, highlighting the gravity of the attack.
The prosecutor also accused the defendants of playing active roles in supporting and managing the operations of the Aiye Confraternity.
“Their involvement in this cult has been a menace to the community,” he remarked, emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by such groups.
The charges brought against Okanlawon, Kareem, and Olatunji are serious violations of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, specifically Sections 406, 411, 245, 42(a), and 41. Despite the severity of the allegations, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges during the court session.
Magistrate Waliu Salami, who presided over the case, granted the accused men bail, setting the amount at N50,000 each. The bail conditions include two sureties for each defendant, one of whom must be a blood relative. The sureties are also required to provide proof of livelihood, evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State government, and have their addresses verified by the court.
The case has been adjourned until September 25, 2024, when it will come up for mention. The community remains on edge as the legal proceedings continue, hoping for justice to be served in the face of the ongoing threat posed by cult activities in the area.