A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday, further adjourned until Nov. 27, the arraignment of 57 Mem charged with engaging in amorous gay relationships.
The defendants are: Segun Ode, 24; Afolabi David, 20; Azeez Tunde, 22; Adedokun Pelumi , 22; Smart Joel ; 25, Iyodun Ehiosun, 20; Rilwan Jamiu, 24; and Raphael Matthew ,38.
The others included Friday John, 21; Godswill Kola, 22, Chibuike Emmanuel , 23 , Prince Collins, 23, Daniel Aya, 22, and Edeh Amarachi , 20.
Also to be arraigned are ; Alozie Innocent’, 21 , Kelvin Nwachukwu, 23, Okekoya Gbemi, ’32, Odika Emmanuel, 25, Kufo Emmanuel, ’27, Adewole MiEniol, 27, Kunle Samson, 29, Daniel Soka, 23, Alabi Olamilekan , 21, Oluwaseun Odu, 26, and Oladipo Eniola, 24.
Bobby Moses, 21, Desmond Onuha, ’23, Joseph Victor, 23, Omoniyi Tobi, ’21, Kelvin Abuchi , 22, Mohammed Abubakar 26, Lawal Yusuf, 22, Odusina Micheal, 23, Wole Ojo , 24, Remy Godwin , 21, and Abiombola Damilola, 21, are on the list.
Also named are; Laguda Olamilekan , 23, Alhassan Opeyemi, 23, Samson Ode, 23, Musibau Remi , 33, Ibrahim Yusuf, 24, Olajide Olaide , 23, Isaac Patrick, 23, Wasiu Ajibade, 25, Oguaghanba Onyeka, 41, and Okechukwu Noble, 25.
The others are: Balogun Olanyinka, 23, Abioye Wealth Olasunkanmi , 25, Isa Asoma, 25, Rasheed Gbenga, 25, Obiafor James , 20, Jesse Paul 22, Oladipo Femi, 25, Ogunirinde Yusuf 28, Chris Godsent, 23, Solomon showole, 27, Olawale Adebayo 26 and others at large.
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The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the defendants could not be arraigned on Friday as earlier scheduled for 2.30p.m., following the absence in court, of Nine of the defendants.
The prosecution was consequently directed by the court to amend the charge to reflect the names of those defendants who are present to face trial.
The court has now fixed Nov. 27 for them to take their pleas.
NAN reports that also on Nov. 5, the scheduled arraignment of the defendants could not proceed following a lack of adequate space in the courtroom.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa had then adjourned the case until today, for arraignment in a more spacious location.
The plea of the defendants will now be taken on Nov. 27.
The police alleged that the defendants were arrested at a Hotel in Egbeda on Aug. 25, 2018, adding that they were picked up at 2 a.m while performing gay initiation rites for newly-recruited members.
They were first arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
They had all pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, membership of a secret cult, and unlawful gathering.
Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye had admitted them to bail in the sum of ₦200,000 each, with one surety each in the like sum.
The police however, filed a count charge against the defendants at the Federal High Court.
In the charge marked FHC/1/311c, the police alleged that the defendants made “public show of a same sex amorous relationship with each other in hidden places within Kelly Hotel” Egbeda.
The police said that the defendants’ actions contravened the provisions of Section 5(2) of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.
NAN
