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Lagos Assembly: 21 years imprisonment for cultists

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The Lagos House of Assembly late Monday passed a bill into law which bans cultists’ activities and related illegal societies across the state.

Anyone found guilty of engaging in cult activities would be imprisoned for 21 years according to the new law. The law also sets down 15 years jail term for anyone found guilty of helping cultists or whose property is being used as a meeting place by cultists.

After the law has been passed, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, told the clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to communicate the law to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approval.

Titled: “A law to provide for the prohibition of unlawful societies and cultism in Lagos state and for other connected purposes’, it says a society shall be regarded as unlawful if its members carry out illegal, destructive activities contrary to public policy, safety and peace of members of the public.”

Section 3 of the law states: “Any person who is a member of an unlawful society or cult, identifies as a member or solicits for members of an unlawful society or cult, attends a meeting of an unlawful society or cult whether as a member or an intending member of the unlawful society or cult commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 21 years imprisonment.”

The jail term has to do with anyone who attends such meetings or is into any illegal act which may probably disrupt peace or activities conducted in a way that threatens life and property.

The law further states: “Anyone who forms, organises or combines and agrees with anyone to form or organise an unlawful society or cult, manages and assists in the management of an unlawful society or cult or knowingly allows a meeting of members of an unlawful society or cult to be held in any property under his control commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 15 years imprisonment.”

The 15 years imprisonment is applicable to anyone who intimidate or forces people to join a cult group.

“Any person who injures or uses violence on a person to compel the person to join an unlawful society or cult, commits an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 21 years imprisonment.

“Any person who administers or is present at and consents to the administering of any unlawful oath that appears to bind the person who takes it to become a member of an unlawful society or cult under this law, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to seven years,” the law says.

The law also specifies that for any cult member who sets fire on anything or uses firearm will be sentenced to 21 years imprisonment; also cult members who uses deadly objects including acid or other chemicals to cause harm would face the same fate.

For any students in the state convicted of campus cultism would face imprisonment not more than two years.

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