An Ogun Special Anti-Cultism Court sitting in Abeokuta, on Thursday sentenced a 35-year-old man, Timileyin Afolayan, to 10 years in prison for belonging to a secret cult group.
The convict, who resides at No. 26, Bajomo Ijaye Ojokoro, Lagos State, was convicted on a two-count charge of membership of an unlawful society and possession of a locally-made pistol without a licence.
The Magistrate, Mr O.L Oke, said that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty as charged.
Oke also held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable and therefore sentenced the convict to seven years in prison for the first count. He also convicted and sentenced Afolayan to 10 years for the second count of having a locally-made pistol.
He did not give the convict an option of a fine and said that the sentences should run concurrently.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp. Olaide Rawlings told the court that the defendant committed the offence on October 19, 2023, at Ibara Housing Estate in Abeokuta.
Rawlings said that the convict was arrested by police officers while on stop-and-search duty at the housing estate.
According to him, one of the police officers stopped the defendant who was on a motorcycle with a black cross bag, searched him, and found a locally-made pistol in his bag without licence or permit.
Upon his arrest, the defendant made a confessional statement that he belonged to the Buccaneer secret cult group, popularly known as Alora confraternity, she said.
Rawlings said that the offences contravened Sections 34 and 36 of the secret cults prohibition and special provisions laws of Ogun 2016, as well as section, 27(a) of the Firearms Act Cap F.28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2014.
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