Enugu court rules on De Norsemen
An Enugu East Magistrate Court has dismissed a criminal suit filed against 20 residents of the State concerning their alleged membership of an unlawful society. The court, in delivering its judgement, upheld a no case submission made by the defence counsel in the case No: CME/587c/2019- Commissioner of Police vs Henry Oputa & 19 Ors.
However, Chief Magistrate A. C. Mbah also discharged the defendants on the ground that the prosecution failed woefully in proving the ingredients of the two-count charge and that the evidence adduced by the prosecution witnesses was discredited as a result of cross examination and rendered manifestly unreliable.
Also, the court arraigned the defendants on April 6, 2023, charging them with conspiracy to belong to “an unlawful society and committing an offense punishable under Section 495(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap.”30, vol. II Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.”
In addition, The charge also held that they “did register with RC 7458 with the name De Norsemen Kclub Inc. under the disguise of unlawful society on 6th and 7th days of September, 2019, gather themselves under the guise and held the meeting of Vikings Confraternity, an unlawful society and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 8 of Public Order (Prohibition of Secret Cults and their activities) Law No. 17 Revised of Enugu State of Nigeria 2009.”
Giving judgement on the matter, Chief Magistrate Mbah declared that the prosecution could not prove its case.
