Ganiyu Ismaila, 23, was sentenced to three years in prison by a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for unlawfully belonging to the Aiye confraternity in the state.
According to the magistrate, S. O Obasa, the defendant was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of belonging to a cult group.
The prosecutor, Godwin Oriabure, told the court during the arraignment that Ismaila committed the crime on January 4, 2019, in the Imota area of Ikorodu, Lagos, and was arrested on March 3, 2022.
Ismaila, while on trial, pleaded guilty to the offence and stated that his friend influenced him to join the cult group by inviting him for one of their meetings.
He added that his group held their meetings every first Sunday of the month at the St John’s primary school, Imota, where he was initiated.
The prosecutor told the court that Ismaila was arrested by the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Lagos State Police Command.
Oriabure also said Ismaila committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (b) Cap CH, C17, Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015.