Women Slump As Court Remands 29 Cult Suspects

Two women on Tuesday slumped at an Ilorin Magistrates’ Court when the court ordered that all the 29 suspected cultists brought before it be remanded in prison.

The women slumped in separate incidents when the accused were being led into the prison van parked at the court’s premises.

The accused were recently arrested at Eiyenkorin area of Ilorin after allegedly initiating new members.

The police prosecutor, Insp Nasiru Yusuf, had told the court that the accused were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and belonging to a secret cult.

He said the offences were contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code in conjunction with Kwara State Legal Notes No.3 of 2010.

Yusuf also objected to the bail of the accused on the ground that the alleged offences were not ordinarily bailable.

The prosecutor listed the accused to include Olatunbosun Aree, Lekan Yemi, Bamidele Segun, Fatahi Wahab, Amodu Abdulrahim, Ajide Olalere, Jamiu Bamidele, Sodiq Mohammed, Olarewaju Ganiyu, Olatunji Emmanuel and Saka Safi.

Others, according to Yusuf, are Oyewale Anuoluwapo, Olaitan Oganji, Sulu Isah, Abdulganiyu Kazeem, Isiaka Sanusi, Ismail Kareem, Ajayi Jacob, Saliu Gafar, Fatahi Ismail and Ahmed Lawal.

Moshood Raman, Salam Lukman, Tope Atolagbe, Kunle Olalekan, Olayinka Tolu, Mohammed Ibrahim, Alimi Ibrahim and Yahaya Umar were also listed.

The defence counsel, Ayinde Obadofin, applied for the bail of the accused persons on liberal terms.

He submitted that section 36 subsections 5 of the Penal Code presume the accused innocent until contrary was proved.

The Magistrate, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, however, ordered that the accused be remanded in Mondala Prison Yard, Ilorin.

He adjourned the case to Sept. 11 for mention.