Lagos cult leader, Small Jpron, re-arraigned

A notorious cultist and ex-convict, Ibrahim Oriyomi Balogun, a.k. a. Small Jpron, was on Friday re-arraigned in Lagos barely a year after he was prosecuted for cult-related offences.

Balogun, 35, who was alleged to be terrorising Somolu area of Lagos, is being prosecuted at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court for belonging to a secret cult.

Balogun was arraigned in 2016 for charges bordering on murder, possession of firearms and belonging to a cult.

He was remanded in prison pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The DPP had advised that the murder charge should be dropped for a lesser charge of belonging to an unlawful society.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of belonging to an unlawful society brought against him.

Police Insp. Chinalu Uwadione, the prosecutor, had told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in January 2016 at Somolu, Lagos.

He said Balogun, an ex-convict, belonged to an unlawful society known as “Eiye confraternity”.

The offence contravened Section 42(1), (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted the accused a bail of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must be gainfully employed, while the other surety must be living in his own house.

Further hearing has been fixed for Oct. 16. punch