THISDAY

Notorious Cultist Rearrested after Jumping Bail

- Chiemelie Ezeobi

The self-confessed leader of Eiye Confratern­ity at the Shomolu/ Bariga and Mushin areas of Lagos, Ibrahim Balogun, also known as Jpron, has been re-arrested by the Lagos State Police Command after he allegedly jumped bail.

Jpron was arrested on November 3 2016 and charged to court the next day for multiple murder cases that spanned for over ten years, but surprising­ly, he left prison two days later.

Jpron, who is believed to be the leader of Eiye cult group that has been terrorisin­g Shomolu, Bariga and Mushin areas of Lagos, was said to have been released with the complicity of two policemen and a high ranking judicial officer.

In his confession­al statement at the Command Headquarte­rs, Ikeja, where he was paraded along with six others, he admitted jumping bail for the fourth time.

He said: “It was one of my friend, Asumo, who facilitate­d my bail. We grew up together at Shomolu. When I was arrested last year, he said to me that he has an uncle who is a Chief Judge serving in Lagos.

“He said he will discuss my issue with him. Two days later, I was granted bail. It was Asumo who did the undergroun­d work that facilitate­d my bail.

“I believe that he must have met with the Chief Judge like he promised because my parents were going to see him.

“I was surprised when I was asked to go home but was told that I should be coming to court. Asumo was working to ensure that the case is dismissed for lack of diligent prosecutio­n.

“We were working on it when I was re-arrested last Friday in court and was brought to meet the Lagos commission­er of police.

“I am surprised that they arrested me again because after my arrest and release, I denounced my membership of Eiye confratern­ity and part of my travails was caused by members of my former cult group.

“The members of the group refused to accept my denunciati­on of the group and they are doing everything possible to make life difficult for me.

“They have refused to believe that I am no longer interested in the activities of their gang. They keep passing wrong informatio­n about me to the police.

“When I was granted bail last year, I met with the leadership of tricycle operators in the area to allow me to open my own park as a way to make legitimate money. They agreed and gave me a park that will carter for tricycles that will operate from Shomolu to Akoka.”

Confirming the arrest, the Commission­er of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Fatai Owoseni, said Jpron was arrested based on an intelligen­ce report.

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