On Thursday, four men were brought before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on allegations of being members of the secret societies known as Eiye and Vikings. The defendants, Joshua Ebigbo (25), Daniel Nkemjika (32), Chibuzor Chukwuma (26), and Lasisi Akeem (23), were charged with conspiracy and membership of an unlawful society.The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty. According to the prosecutor, Dr. Simon Uche, the defendants committed the crimes on April 16 in the Alaba Market area of Ojo. Uche claimed that the defendants conspired to form and manage the Eiye and Vikings confraternities, which is against the law.The offences are in violation of Sections 2(3) (a-e) of Lagos State Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism Law, 2021, which stipulates a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists and 15 years’ imprisonment for those found guilty of abetting cultism. The prosecutor also argued that the defendants’ actions contravened Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.The Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody until advice is received from the state directorate of public prosecutions. The case was adjourned until June 7 for mention.