Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday signed a new bill into law that jails persons convicted for Cultism to a 21-year jail term.
The state House of Assembly had, in February, passed the anti-cultism bill.
The bill titled Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021 also proscribed a 15-year jail term for anyone found guilty of abetting cultists in the state
Also, residents who wilfully allow their properties to be used as meeting points by cultists will be charged for abetting Cultism.
Sanwo-Olu assented to the bill at the swearing-in event for newly appointed members of the state public procurement agency governing board and two permanent secretaries, which held at State House banquet hall, Ikeja.
The governor also signed three other bills into law. They are Lagos State Audit Service Commission (Amendment) Law of 2019, Lagos State Public Procurement Bill of 2021 and Coronavirus Pandemic Emergency Law of 2021.
The anti-cultism law repeals the Cultism (Prohibition) Law of 2007 (now Cap. C18, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015) and provides for more stringent punitive measures, as well as makes its application all-encompassing and applicable to the general public, as against the restriction of the previous law to students of tertiary institutions.
Sanwo-Olu said the state had suffered the negative effects of unlawful societies and cultism, stressing that the new law seeks 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.
“I signed the bill for the Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021 into law today. The law sets a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists in the State,” Sanwo-Olu announced on Twitter.
The anti-cultism law also stipulates a 15-year jail term for anyone found guilty of abetting cultists.
