A Federal High Court in Lagos Friday, further adjourned until November 27, the arraignment of 57 men charged with engaging in amorous gay relationships.
Justice Mohammed Aikawa fixed the date following the absence in court, of nine of the defendants.
The judge directed the prosecution to amend the charge to reflect the names of those defendants who were present to face trial.
On November 5, the scheduled arraignment of the defendants could not proceed following a lack of adequate space in the courtroom.
Justice Aikawa adjourned till Friday at 10am, for arraignment in a more spacious location. But the case, which was rescheduled for 2:30pm could not go on.
The defendants are: Segun Ode, 24; Afolabi David, 20; Azeez Tunde, 22; Adedokun Pelumi , 22; Smart Joel ; 25, Iyodun Ehiosun, 20; Rilwan Jamiu, 24; and Raphael Matthew,38.
The others include Friday John, 21; Godswill Kola, 22, Chibuike Emmanuel, 23, Prince Collins, 23, Daniel Aya, 22, and Edeh Amarachi, 20.
Also to be arraigned are ; Alozie Innocentโ, 21 , Kelvin Nwachukwu, 23, Okekoya Gbemi, โ32, Odika Emmanuel , 25, Kufo Emmanuel, โ27, Adewole Micheal , 27, Kunle Samson, 29, Daniel Soka, 23, Alabi Olamilekan , 21, Oluwaseun Odu , 26, and Oladipo Eniola , 24.
Bobby Moses, 21, Desmond Onuha, โ23, Joseph Victor, 23, Omoniyi Tobi, โ21, Kelvin Abuchi , 22, Mohammed Abubakar 26, Lawal Yusuf , 22, Odusina Micheal, 23, Wole Ojo , 24, Remy Godwin , 21, and Abiombola Damilola, 21, are on the list.
Also named are; Laguda Olamilekan , 23, Alhassan Opeyemi, 23, Samson Ode, 23, Musibau Remi , 33, Ibrahim Yusuf, 24, Olajide Olaide , 23, Isaac Patrick, 23, Wasiu Ajibade, 25, Oguaghanba Onyeka, 41, and Okechukwu Noble , 25.
Balogun Olanyinka, 23, Abioye Wealth Olasunkanmi , 25, Isa Asoma, 25, Rasheed GBenga, 25, Obiafor James , 20, Jesse Paul 22, Oladipo Femi, 25, Ogunirinde Yusuf 28, Chris Godsent , 23, Solomon showole, 27, Olawale Adebayo 26 and others at large complete the list.
The plea of the defendants will now be taken on November 27.
The police alleged that the defendants were arrested at a Hotel in Egbeda on August 25, 2018, adding that they were picked up at 2am while performing gay initiation rites for newly-recruited members.
They were first arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistratesโ Court in Lagos.
They all pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, membership of a secret cult, and unlawful gathering.
Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye admitted them to bail in the sum of โฆ200,000 each, with one surety each in the like sum.
The police however, filed one count charge against the defendants at the Federal High Court.
In the charge marked FHC/1/311c, the police alleged that the defendants made โpublic show of a same sex amorous relationship with each other in hidden places within Kelly Hotelโ Egbeda.
The police said that the defendantsโ actions contravened the provisions of Section 5(2) of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.
