An Ebonyi State Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Abakaliki, on Thursday, remanded at the prison custody, a 24-year-old man, one Okeye Jacob, for alleged involvement in armed robbery, attempted murder and cultism.

Jacob, it was learnt, was alleged to have stabbed one Florence Igwe in the face with dagger and thereafter robbed her of her N50,000.00 cash sum.

The suspect was also alleged to have belonged to a secret cult group known as Junior Vikings  Confraternity, which it was further said, he had used in terrorising unsuspecting members of public and robing them of their valuables.

Newsmen gathered that the suspect committed the offence at Ohaofia Agba community in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, on February 9, 2020.

The accused person was arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court on four counts bothering on armed robbery, attempted murder, cultism and conspiracy, on Thursday.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Mbam, who alleged that the suspect almost killed the victim during the incident, equally told the court that the offence was punishable under sections 516A (a), 402, 320 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of  Nigeria and contrary to (1), (3), 4 (1) 5 of the Ebonyi State Law prohibiting secret cult activities and carrying of offensive weapons, 2009.

The charge read, “That you Okeye Jacob ‘m’ and others at large on the 9th day of February, 2020, at Ohaofia Agba in Ishielu LGA, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to: armed robbery, attempted murder and cultism and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A (a) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Okeye Jacob ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforesaid Magisterial District did armed yourselves with dagger and rob one Florence Igwe ‘f’ of her cash sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 402 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Okeye Jacob ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully attempt to kill one Florence Igwe ‘f’ by stabbing her with a dagger on her face which caused her harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 320 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Okeye Jacob ‘m’ and others now at large on the date, place and in the aforesaid Magisterial District did belong to a secret cult known as Junior Vikings Confraternity (JVC) and thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 3(1), (3) and 4 (1) and punishable under section under section 5 of the Ebonyi State Law prohibiting secret cult activities and carrying of offensive weapons in Ebonyi State Cap. 12, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

No bail application was made on the suspect’s behalf, because he was not represented in court by a Defense Counsel.

The Chief Magistrate, B.I. Chukwu, noted that the court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

Mrs. Chukwu directed that the accused person be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, while his case file should be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, for necessary legal advice.

She adjourned the case till March 9, 2020, for report of compliance.