MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Tactical team of the Lagos State Command have arrested a 32-year old suspected cult member, Elijah Emmanuel Oluwakemi, with a locally designed gun and live ammunition.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Oluwafemi, was apprehended with the items at Jakande area of Lekki by the Tactical team and was suspected to be an armed robber having recovered the items as exhibits.
However, sensing the seriousness of arms possession, the suspect confessed to the Police that he was not an armed robber ,rather he was a member of a proscribed cult group.
He was arrested and detained at the State Command for interrogation over his confession and there he was found culpable for belonging to a secret cult.
He was consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for allegedly being in possession of firearms and belonging to an unlawful society under the Criminal Law of the State.
The charges read:
“That you, Elijah Emmanuel Oluwafemi ‘m’ and others now at large on the 1st day of September, 2025 at about 1730hrs at Jakande Lekki area of Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: unlawful society and unlawful possession of a locally made gun with one live ammunition and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
“That you, Elijah Emmanuel Oluwafemi ‘m’ and others now at large on the said date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully have in your possession one locally made gun and one live cartridge and thereby committed an offence under Section 298(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
“That you, Elijah Emmanuel Oluwafemi ‘m’ and others now at large on said date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial District, did belong to a fraternity, which is proscribed by the Law as an unlawful society and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 2(3)(a)(b)(c) (d) of the Societies Prohibition and Cultism Law of Lagos State 2021.”
However, the Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, asking the Court to give a date and refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.