A cultism suspect, Victor Iroegbulem, is facing a two-count charge in court for allegedly taking part in activities of a secret cult group known as “Deygbam” and is being remanded in custody in the Port-Harcourt Prison awaiting his trial.
When the suspect was brought to court in January, the two-count charges were read to his hearing and understanding but no plea was taken because of the nature of the charge.
The presiding Senior Magistrate of the court, Snr. Magistrate Lenu Baridam, said that the magistrate court lacked jurisdiction to try the case and referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
The presiding Senior Magistrate ordered that the accused person be remanded in custody in the Port-Harcourt Prison pending his trial.
The case with charge number PMC 116c/2019, is between the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and Victor Iroegbulem. The Police Prosecutor in the case is Insp. Ochogwu Wilberforce.
The charges which were read to the accused person who is aged 28, when he was brought to court early this year said: “That you, Victor Iroegbulem, ‘m’ and others at large between the year 2007 and December 2018 at Umuazu Igbo Etche, in the Port-Harcourt Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Cultism and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 7 (c) of the Secret Cult And Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Rivers State No. 7 of 2018 as amended.
“That you, Victor Iroegbulem, ‘m’ and others at large between the same dates and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did belong and participate in the activities of secret cult known and called “Deygbam” and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1 (1) of the Secret Cult And Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Rivers State No. 7 of 2018 as amended”.
The case was adjourned to 16th of April, 2019.
