A Minna Chief Magistrate Court has remanded 16 boys charged for being suspected members of a secret cult and joining unlawful gathering in Lapai.
The boys mostly students and graduates of the Niger state University also known as the Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda University Lapai (IBBUL), according to the First Information Report (FIR) were on Thursday arraignment before the court on 2 count charges.
They were in the first count accused of joint act, membership of unlawful society, joining unlawful assembly armed with axe contrary to section 79, 102,103 of the penal code.
They were also being in possession of dangerous weapons and substance suspected to be intoxicants contrary to section 6 and 7 of the Niger state law against Thuggery 2018.
The prosecutor, ASP Ahmed Saidu urged the court to remand the accused persons in correctional center arguing that investigation is still ongoing in the case.
He argued that the accused suspects will jump bail if released , to frustrate the case based on the fact that of of them are not from Niger state.
He said that the accused were suspected to be members of the black axe confraternity who inflicted injuries on others during initiation ceremony before they were arrested.
He therefore objected to their bail, however the legal team for the accused persons led by Barrister Gimbal Mohammed prayed the court to grant them bail as they are presumed to be innocent for now.
Appearing with 10 others, Barrister Gimba said his clients will not jump bail if granted adding that the accused persons are youths of exuberant age.
In his ruling the Chief Magistrate 1A, Nasir Mohammed ordered the accused persons to be remanded in Old Minna Correctional centre and adjourned the matter to July 19 , 2021.
