Funke Busari, Lagos
CuItists and members of secret societies will cease to hold sway without adequate punishment in Lagos as the State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed the Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021 into law, approving 21-year jail term for convicted cultists in the State.
Back row L-R: Chairmen, Lagos State House of Assembly Committees: Hon. Rauf Age-Sulaiman (Procurement); Hon. Victor Akande (Judiciary); Hon. Nurudeen Solaja-Saka (Public Account) and Hon. Hakeem Sokunle (Health).
The law and three others were given assents to tackle cultists activities and other infractions in the State.
The bills signed into law are the Lagos State Audit Service Commission (Amendment) Law of 2019, Lagos State Public Procurement Bill of 2021 and Coronavirus Pandemic Emergency Law of 2021.
Recall that the State’s House of Assembly, in February had passed the anti-cultism bill, which stipulated 15-year jail term for anyone found guilty of abetting cultists and residents who willfully allow their properties to be used as meeting points by cultists.
Sanwo-Olu gave assents to the bills at the swearing-in event for newly appointed members of the State’s Public Procurement Agency Governing Board and two Permanent Secretaries held at Banquet Hall in the State House, Alausa, on Monday.
The governor said the State had suffered the negative effects of unlawful societies and cultism, stressing that the new law sought to make parents more responsible and show more interest in the up-bringing of their children and wards to ensure that they do not become a burden to the society.
