Police arrest and arraign fashion designer for cultism

A fashion designer identified as Olamide Oyelami, has been arrested and arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court on three counts bordering on cultism and unlawful possession of firearm.

A locally-made pistol loaded with one live cartridge was recovered from the fashion designer, who was arrested during a police patrol on July 22, 2018. The suspect who confessed to being a member of a cult, Alora, said in his statement to the police;

“I live with a childhood friend, Olaitan Olatunji. Olatunji and I went to a birthday party. When it was around 9pm, we left the party. On getting to De-Chandi Hotel near the general hospital on Ota Road, the police patrol team attached to the Elere division accosted me and when they searched me, they recovered one locally-made pistol loaded with one live cartridge.
“The pistol that was found in my possession was given to me by one Leke Obatolu, who resides in the Oniwaya area of Agege. Obatolu gave me the gun at the birthday party. He asked me to keep it for him. Olatunji, Obatolu and I are members of Alora. I joined Alora early last year and Obatolu was the one that initiated me into the cult.”

At the court, police prosecutor, Abiola Adewale disclosed that the cultism offences committed by the 27-year-old Oyo indigene, contravened sections 411, 41 and 51 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

“That you, Olamide Oyelami, and others now at large, on July 22, 2018, around 11.30pm on Ota Road, Ile-Epo, Agege, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit; belonging to an unlawful society.
“That you, Olamide Oyelami, and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did manage a confraternity, popularly known as Alora, knowing that the society is unlawful.
“That you, Olamide Oyelami, and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully have in your possession one locally-made single-barrelled pistol with one live cartridge without a licence issued to you by the Inspector-General of Police or any other appropriate authority” his charge read.

The fashion designer who pleaded not guilty to charges of cultism, was granted bail of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum. Punch reported that the case was adjourned till September 27, 2018.