Three teenagers and three other men who allegedly belonged to an unlawful society and caused the death of their member were on Friday in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The defendants are Waris Mustapha; 14, Sulaimon Adetayo; 15, Kehinde Opeyemi; 18, Quadri Jimoh; 18, Israel Ogunbiyi; 20, and Lateef Jamie; 34.
They are facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and belonging to unlawful society.
The prosecutor, ASP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the defendants committed the offence at 7.30 a.m. on Nov. 26, at Isheri Osun area of Ijegun, Lagos.
According to him, the defendants belong to an unlawful society called “Young Money.”
He said that they had an altercation with a rival cult that resulted in a big brawl and left many members of both cults injured.
Nurudeen told the court that a member of the unlawful society sustained major injuries and was rushed to Igando General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
“My Lord, these are the ones the police were able to arrest but some of them, however, escaped during the raid,” he said.
The offences contravened Sections 411 and 42 (a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 42 (a) stipulates a three-year jail term for offences relating to unlawful society while Section 411 provides a two-year jail for conspiracy.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety each in like sum.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs K.B. Ayeye, said the surety must be gainfully employed with an evidence of three years of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until March 10, 2020, for mention.
