3 Men Arraigned For Alleged Membership Of Eiye Cult In Lagos 

The defendants, Segun Ahmed, 38, Adegbite Afeez, 33, and Kazeem Babatunde, 43, were brought before Magistrate L.A. Owolabi on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and belonging to a proscribed cult group.

According to the charge sheet marked Charge No /2026, with file number 2026, the defendants were arrested by operatives of the Command Tactical Squad 1, State Headquarters, Ikeja.

The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, told the court that the defendants and others now at large, on the 8th day of August, 2026, at about 10:30hrs, at Salami Bashorun Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony.

The charge read in part, “That you Segun Ahmed ‘M’ Age 38 Years, Adegbite Afeez ‘M’ Age 33 Years, Kazeem Babatunde ‘M’ Age 43 Years and others now at large, on the 8th day of August, 2026 at about 1030hrs, at Salami Bashorun Street, Ijeshatedo Surulere Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Unlawful Society and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

In count two, the prosecutor alleged that the defendants belonged to the Eiye confraternity cult, which is proscribed by law as an unlawful society.

The offence, according to the prosecution, was contrary to and punishable under Section 2(3)(a)(b)(c)(d) of the Unlawful Societies Prohibition and Cultism Law of Lagos State, 2021.

The charge was filed by the Commissioner of Police through the D/C Command Tactical Squad 1, State Headquarters, led by SP Banti Adamu, while ASP Faromoju Adeyemi was listed as investigating officer.

When the charges were read to the defendants in court, they pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, asked the court for a date for trial and requested that the defendants be remanded in custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The Magistrate, L.A. Owolabi, granted the defendants bail with sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.

The magistrate ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center, Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

He adjourned the case to a later date to be communicated to the parties for trial.

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its zero tolerance for cultism and unlawful societies, warning that anyone found belonging to or participating in cult activities will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Police said investigation is still ongoing to arrest other members of the group who are now at large.

Residents of Ijeshatedo in Surulere have commended the Police for the arrest, saying cult activities had caused panic in the area in recent months.

Note: The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.