MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 43-year old man, Festus Elaweremi, has opted to be charged as a member of proscribed cult group after he was arrested with a pistol and live ammunition as an armed robbery suspect in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Festus Elawerem, was apprehended by Police operatives on 24th June,2025 at Toyota bus stop, Oshodi area of Lagos, with the firearm while other members of his gang managed to escape and are now at large.
However, sensing that if charged as an armed robbery suspect he may stay longer in prison custody, he then confessed that he belonged to a cult group known as Eiye Confraternity.
The decision may have saved him as he was charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to an unlawful Eiye group under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read :
“That you, Festus Elaweremi ‘m’ and othes still at large, on the 24th June, 2025 at about 2300hrs at Toyota bus stop, Oshodi Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of firearms and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Festus Elaweremi ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did have in your possession one locally made pistol and two 9mm calibre live ammunition without any legal backing or authority and you could not give satisfactory account on how you came about the gun and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 51 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III: “That you, Festus Elaweremi ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did belong to Eiye cult group, which is proscribed by law as an unlawful society and thereby committed an offence contrary to Societies and Cultism Law of Lagos State, 2021.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere ,then asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the seriousness of the alleged offence.
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 till 27th August, 2025, 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.