Not less than 30 men, alleged to be members of a cult, Black Axe, were arraigned in a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos on Wednesday.

The accused are Ibrahim Taiwo, 19; Ariyo Toheeb, 19; Olasupo Solomon, 19; Adam Oloko, 19; Azeez Lukmon, 20; Agboola Olaoluwa, 19; Taiwo Oyedeji, 42; Imeh Wisdom, 21; Aruna Waheed, 31, and Ogunkoya Peter, 25.

Others are Jimoh Ibrahim, 47; Oluwasegun Temitope, 38; Quadri Kalejaiye, 19; Yinka Bolaji, 30; Agbaje Ridwon, 26; Victor Chibuzi, 28; Ogunyemi Sunday, 20; Toheeb Ojerinde, 19; Adesuyi Andrew, 22, and Obayomi Adeoye, 45. Also accused are Akeem Ogunmola, 24; Mega Emmanuel, 26; Fashawe Davis, 26; Olugbode Gbenga, 37; Sunday Adesanya, 19; Shittabe Olalekan, 19; Rotimi Ogunyemi, 19; Jamiu Bolaji, 32; Odenero Cuple, 49, and Kadri Ibrahim, 19.

The accused were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and belonging to unlawful society.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 6, at 11 p.m., at Igbogbo Area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Olaluwoye said the accused were arrested alongside 40 other men suspected to be members of Black Axe.

She said they were assembling for the yearly cult celebration scheduled to hold on July 7.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted N50,000 bail each with one surety in like sum.

Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere said the surety must be a blood relation, gainfully employed and must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government; and then adjourned the case until October 3 for mention.