Eight men were on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly possessing firearms.
They are Olanrewaju Olakunmi, 37; Ibrahim Yusuf, 23; Quadri Tiamiyu, 28; Taokeek Bello, 18; Adebayo Muiz, 18; James Adeshola, 18; Nurudeen Ewemije, 26; and Adebowale Ajakaye, 41.
The accused, all of whom reside at different areas of Mushin, Lagos are being tried for unlawful society, breach of peace, possession of firearms and conspiracy.
They however, pleaded not guilty.
According to the Prosecutor, Insp. Aondohemba Koti, the eight men committed the offences on Sept. 12 at Tinuola Street, Railway Line, Mushin.
He said that the accused and others still at large conspired to belong to an unlawful society and also had in their possession firearms without valid licences.
“The accused belonged to an unlawful society called “Eiye Confraternity’’.
“They had in their possession three live cartridges, a locally made double barrel pistol, one AK 47 live ammunition, one axe and a dagger.”
Koti said that the accused also engaged in a fight and started threatening residents of the community, destroying their property.
“The residents of the area alerted the police who stormed the scene and arrested the accused men, while others escaped.
“The weapons were recovered from them,” the prosecutor said.
He noted that the offences contravened Section 42, 168, 330 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 42 attracts three years jail term for unlawful society while Section 339 carries seven years for unlawful possession of firearms.
The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
She said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Tanimola adjourned the case until October 29 for the mention.
