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The defendants, Emmanuel Eguku (23), Adefemi Qudus (24), Odukoyo Deji (23), Hoteyin Oladeji (29) and Emeka Ekenjoku (32), were arraigned on Monday on three counts of belonging to an unlawful society and murder.
It was learnt that the men were members of the Aiye Confraternity.
The first three suspects were said to have had a meeting on December 7, 2014 to plot how to kill another suspected cultist in the Eiye Confraternity, a rival group.
Our correspondent was told that no sooner did they finish the meeting and left, than they met the victim passing along the Oriokuta Road, Imota, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
One of them was said to have shot him in the neck, killing him on the spot.
Police investigations, however, led to the arrest of the suspects.
The Investigating Police Officer, Corporal Felix Usogu of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, in a remand application he submitted to the court, said the police recovered exhibits and fingerprint evidence from the suspects.
He added that Eguku, Qudus and Deji confessed to be among the killer-gang, while Oladeji and Ekenjoku were members of their group.
The police arraigned the first three suspects for conspiracy to commit murder and cultism, while the others were charged with cultism.
The charges read in part, “That you, Emmanuel Eguku , Adefemi Qudus, Odukoyo Deji, and others at large on December 7, 2014, at about 1.30pm, at Oriokuta Road, Imota Ikorodu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Damilayo Ayodele, aged 23 years, by firing him in his neck with a locally-made pistol.”
The representative of the police prosecutor, Inspector Ali Uwesuri, said the offences were punishable under sections 231 and 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
No plea was taken for the capital offence, but the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge of belonging to an unlawful society.
Uwesuri said, “The first three defendants are being arraigned for murder. We apply for their remand in prison for the first 30 days, pending the release of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The period will also enable us amend the charge sheet to reflect other development.”
The defence counsel, Hassan Olanrewaju, applied for the bail of the last two defendants.
He said, “A quick look at count three indicates that the alleged offence is a misdemanour, which is a bailable offence. I therefore apply for the bail of the fourth and fifth defendants in liberal terms.”
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Tunbosun Abolarinwa, granted the police request to remand Eguku, Qudus and Deji in prison, but granted bail to Oladeji and Ekenjoku in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till March 19, 2015 for legal advice from the DPP.
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