Police operatives have finally arrested a notorious suspected cult leader, Wasiu Akingbola, who allegedly arranged members of his Aiye Confraternity and set fire on Ikeja Police Station and escaped in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 29th May, 2023, around 3am at the Oregun Police Post in the Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos.
The suspect, Akingbola, reportedly had altercation with one Inspector Kabiru and he arranged with other members of his cult group and demanded the Police authority to release him to them.
However, the Police refused and they allegedly brought some petroleum substance, set the station on fire and escaped. And since then the Police have been looking for him and the hoodlums who committed the dastardly act.
Nemesis caught up with the 27-year-old Akingbola when he had another matter with the Police and he was identified. He was immediately arrested and detained for interrogation over his conduct by burning the Police station.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before Ogba Magistrate Court for allegedly assaulting a Policeman and setting a Police station on fire.
The suspect, Akingbola, is facing a four-count of assault, arson, inflicting bodily harm and belonging to a secret cult under the Criminal Law of the State, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Kokoye Olusegun, told the Court that Akingbola alongside about 15 hoodlums belonging to the Supreme Eiye Confraternity instigated the attack on the Police post.
He also alongside his accomplices demanded the officer on duty, Inspector Eche Emmanuel, to release one Inspector Kabiru to them but when they were told the officer was not stationed at the outpost, the hoodlums beat up the officer on duty, set the Police outpost on fire and ran away.
The prosecutor further told the Court that Akingbola was arrested at Alausa Police Station for another matter as he was recognised by the officer on duty at the Oregun outpost and the DPO was alerted.
According to him, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 170, 173/174 (b), 341 (a), and 2(3)(a)(b)(c)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Sakirat Obasa, ordered the defendant to be remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre 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.
The matter was adjourned till 25th September, 2023, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.