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.

He said investigations had revealed that the notorious cultist jumped bail four days after he was charged to court, adding that two policemen have already been arrested.