Five Suspected Ritualist Caught With Human Skulls In Cementary

Five men have been charged to a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ court in Lagos for alleged possession of human skulls.

The suspects are Adekunle Mufutau, 50, Abdulwaheed Omolewa, 46, Adeleke Nosiru, 45, Kazeem Laisisi, 36, and Babatunde Omoleye, 30.

The defendants who pleaded not guilty were charged on two count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of human parts.

The Prosecutor, Asp. Rita Momah, informed the court that the suspects were caught on March 16 at Agbowa Ikosi, area near Lagos.

Mormah stated that the suspects had invaded a Brewery Cemetery in Agbowa Ikosi in the middle of the night, dug up many decomposed bodies, cut off the skull of the bodies and took them for ritual purposes.

However, the grave keeper saw them before they could escape and called the attention of the local vigilante group that subsequently caught them and took them to the police station.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 411 and 238 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

Section 238 stipulates a 14-year jail term for unlawful possession of human part, while 411 provides for two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo granted the suspects a bail of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

She said one of the sureties must be a blood relation to each defendant and that both sureties should be gainfully employed.

Adedayo also directed that the sureties should reside within the court’s jurisdiction and show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

The case was adjourned until May 9 for mention.