No fewer than 30 suspects, including some persons said to be sons and relatives of policemen in the Falomo Police Barracks, Ikoyi, Lagos, have been remanded for engaging in cultism and robbery.
Seventeen of the suspects were arraigned in the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court while 13 others were brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on four counts bordering on the offences.
The suspects were aged between 18 and 38.
Suspects arraigned in Tinubu are Raymond Ishola, Jackson Uhunona, Tope Bamidele, Bitrius Mislon, Emmanuel Inuhu, Godwin Liberty, Dekison Lukman, Godwin Joshua, Nicholas Abhuliman, and Sanni Musa.
Others are Jafet Lukman, Abdullahi Usman, Augustine Abhulimen, Danladi Istifanus, Aminu Yahaya, Mark Kangtei and Loyi Dajen.
The 13 defendants arraigned before magistrate P.A. Adekomaya of Igbosere Magistrates’ Court are Gabriel Owolo, Obasesan Bassey, Confidence Oyegbulom, Akin John, Simon Sunday, Bitrus Markus and Afees Obakunle.
Others are Femi Emmanuel, Abubakar Abdullahi, Akeem Olusegun, Adedakun Samuel, Nana Antwi and Paul Ekeh.
A police source told our correspondent that the suspects were picked up between December 13 and 14 by a team of policemen who raided the barracks and its environs.
The source said the Divisional Police Officer of the Ikoyi division had 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.
“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 source said.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which according to the police, contravene 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.”
The presiding magistrate at Tinubu court, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted bail to the 17 suspects brought before him in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum, while Adekomaya admitted the 13 others to bail in the same amount with one surety each in like sum.
Both held that the defendants be remanded pending the time their bail conditions would be perfected.
Adekomaya slated the next sitting on the case for January 28, 2016, while Owolabi adjourned
