Three men on Tuesday, March 17, appeared in an Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin, for allegedly belonging to unlawful secret cults
The defendants are Macriff Osazuwa, 25,
Agbdino Innocent, 20, and Odigie Kelvin, 20
They are being tried for conspiracy, and members of unlawful society.
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The Police Prosecution , Inspector David Akhigbe, told the court that the defendants conspired among themselves to committ the offense on March 5, at New Benin Market Area, in Benin.
According to the prosecution, the three accused persons made confessional statement that they are members of unlawful society.
The prosecutor said Osazuwa confessed that he is a member of Marphite secret cult, Innocent a member of Eiye Secret cult and Kelvin a member of Terrance Secret cult.
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The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 516(1), and 64(a) of the Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. 11, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, now applicable in Edo.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Earlier, Mr Joseph Odi, had made an oral bail application assuring the court that the defendants would not jump bail and that they will be available when they are needed in court.
The Magistrate, Victoria Oyekpen, however, said the court is considering the bail application because of the integrity of the counsel to the defendants.
“Counsel I am counting on your integrity, otherwise they look rugged” Oyekpen said.
Magistrate Oyekpen admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum each.
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She added that the surety must be a blood relation.
She then adjourned the case until April 7, for hearing.