Two Alleged Cultists On Trial Over Murder, Possession Of Firearms
By Felix Kuyinu
Two men, Shali Fatal and Yusuf Ismaila, are facing prosecution over an alleged murder of an alleged member of an opposition confraternity, Sheriff Salami, in Ajah, Lagos.
Fatai, 40, alongside the other accused, Ismaila, 35, alleged members of Black Axe Aiye cult group were said to have shot the victim to death during an operation in the community.
During the duo’s arraignment at the Ogba Magistrates’ Court, Police Prosecutor, Josephine Ikhayere, held that they commited the offences on 18th April, 2023, at Muba of the community and have been charged charged on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and murder under the Criminal Law of the State.
Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants, along with one Hammed Akaribi, still at large, committed the offences by shooting Ismaila on the stomach and hacking him on the head with an axe, this, contravening Sections 222(1), (2) and 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, as well as Section 2(3) of the Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Law of Lagos State, 2021.
The Presiding Magistrate, Lateef Owolabi, ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, and adjourned the case till April 7.
