Court remands notorious cult leader
Men of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Lagos State Police Command, Panti-Yaba, have charged the notorious cult leader in Shomolu, Lagos, Ibrahim Oriyomi Balogun, popularly called Small Jpron, before an Ebute-metta Chief Magistate's Court.
The 35-year-old suspected cultist was charged before Chief Magistate Oluwayemisi Adelaja, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, possession of firearms and belonging to Eiye Confrantanity, an outlawed secret society.
Though his plea was not taken, Chief Magistate Adelaja has ordered that the suspected cult leader be remanded in prison's custody, pending when the Direction of Public Prosecution (DPP), will issue a legal advice on the charges against him.
The matter has been adjourned till April 7, 2017, for DDP's advice.
In the charge marked D/22/17, signed by the Head of Legal, SCIID, Effiong Asuquo, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), alleged that the suspect in connivance with members of his group who are now at large, sometime in January 2016, at Shomolu, conspired among themselves to commit murder.
During the period mentioned, he was also alleged to have killed one whipper by hitting him with a plank on his head and Lekan, by shooting him with a gun on his chest.
He was also alleged to belong to an unlawful society called Eiye Confrantanity: having in his possession and control a gun without license from appropriate authority, with an intent to use it to commit offence.
The Offences according to the prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, are contrary and punishable under Sections 223, 42(1)(a) and 298(3) of the Criminal Laws Cap. Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The suspect who was formerly arrested and charged before the court sometime in August 2016, was said to have escaped from detention late last year.
He was however, rearrested by the police late last month and charged before the court.