2 Men Remanded in Kirikiri Over Alleged Cultism and Firearm Case

(Two suspects. Photo by Naijaonpoint)

Two men, Ashafa Muftaudeen and Shakirudeen Shonekan, have been brought before a Lagos Magistrate Court to face allegations of conspiracy, cultism, and illegal possession of firearms, following an incident in the Ojo area of Lagos.

Per the charge sheet filed by the Commissioner of Police, the alleged offence took place on or before May 6, 2026, at about 3 a.m. in Ojo, within the Lagos Magisterial District.

The prosecution claims the defendants, along with others still at large, conspired to commit a felony, specifically an unlawful act, an offence said to contravene Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The second count alleges that the two men knowingly and deliberately formed, joined and helped run an unlawful society or cult known as the "Eiye Confraternity," fully aware that it was illegal an act said to breach Section 2(3)(a)(b)(d)(e) of the Lagos State Laws on Unlawful Societies and Cultism, 2021, which bars the formation, membership and running of such groups in the state.

A third count accuses the defendants and others still at large of being found with a locally fabricated cut-to-size firearm in a public place, without being able to give a satisfactory explanation for how they obtained it an alleged breach of Section 296, punishable under Section 298(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The fourth count alleges that the defendants, together with others still at large, conspired to commit a felony, namely murder, an offence punishable under Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The case was handled by operatives of the Command Tactical Team Crocodile of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, with the relevant exhibit and case file tendered in court.

The Legal Police Officer named on the charge sheet was Cpl. Odusote Adeola, while the Team Leader was Inspector Adedokun Olalekan of the CPTT, PPL Okokomaiko.

The court, however, did not take the defendants' plea, after the prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, asked that the matter be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, ordered that the two men be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center in Kirikiri, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP's advice, and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP.

The matter was adjourned for mention, to allow the DPP's advice which will determine jurisdiction to be made available.

Legal observers point out that under Nigerian law, anyone charged with an offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court, and that the court is expected to hear evidence from both sides before reaching any determination.

The case was adjourned, with parties directed to return on the next adjourned date for continuation of proceedings.