The police on Thursday dragged five suspected cultists to an Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court in the southwest of Nigeria.
The accused are Mutaru Idris, 28; Rasheed Olutade, 29, Azeez Ibrahim, 22, and two teenagers with three counts of membership of unlawful society, conspiracy and breach of peace to which they pleaded not guilty.
According to Sgt. Abdulkareem Mustapha, who is the Police Prosecutor, these individuals committed the offence in the midnight of March 27, in Mosalashi area, Ota, Ogun State.
Abdulkareem also told the court that the group belonged to a society identified as “Aiye Confraternity” and that they conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace in the community.
Mustapha stated that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 249 (d), 430 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
However, while giving his verdict, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Mathew Akinyemi, granted each of the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.
The Chief Magistrate stated that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and they must be gainfully employed.
Akinyemi also insisted that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to Ogun State Government as part of the bail conditions, and he adjourned the case until May 5 for hearing.