Four men on Monday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged membership of “Eiye confraternity”, an unlawful society.
The defendants are Ismaila Adebanjo, 25; Hassan Adeyemi, 21; Sadiku Yusuf, 20; Adesoye Yusuf, 27; and Ramon Tajudeen, 26.
However, the men, who face four counts of conspiracy, belonging, managing an unlawful society and owning charms and dangerous weapons, pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp D. Raphel, had told the court that the defendants had committed the offences on March 6, at 2.00 p.m., at Ibeju Lekki.
He said that the defendants were members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities who terrorise the community and conduct themselves in manners likely to cause a breach of the peace.
According to him, the third and fourth defendants were arrested while in possession of a dagger and fetish objects suspected to be charming, which they had concealed in a black bag.
The alleged offences, the prosecutor said, contravened Sections 168 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
It also contravenes Sections 2 (3) (a) (b) (c) (d) of the unlawful Societies and Cultism Law (prohibition) of Lagos State, 2021.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.G. Oghre, granted each defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case until July 27 for mention. (NAN)
