Cultist who threw rival into Lagos lagoon arraigned in court

Nigeria - A man who is alleged to be a cultist but who described himself as a tailor, Sulaimon Babatunde, has been brought before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly throwing a man into the Lagos lagoon to drown.

Babatunde, 24, who resides at No. 135, Isale Gambari St., in Ilorin, Kwara, was docked on charges of conspiracy and murder.

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Cousin Adams, had told the court that the offences were committed on June 5, 2017 at about 10p.m. on Carter Bridge on Lagos Island.

Adams alleged that the accused, alongside two other suspects, had tied the hands of the victims simply identified as Ahmed, and severely beaten him, before throwing him into the lagoon to drown.

Adams explained that the victim and the accused had previously been members of a cult in Kwara.

“Babatunde claimed that the deceased had caused the death of his two-month-old baby sometime in January and upon sighting him, he solicited the help of two of his friends, who are now at large.

“The trio bundled Ahmed into a dark corner where they beat him up before carrying him to the lagoon side and throwing him inside,” the prosecutor stated.

Magistrate Helen Omisore ordered that the accused remain behind bars for the next 30 days, pending legal advice from the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

Omisore noted that the offences contravene sections 165 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The court refused to take Babatunde’s plea.

The magistrate ordered that the accused be remanded in custody; and adjourned the matter till July 24.