An Ogun Special Anti-Cultism Court sitting in Abeokuta, yesterday 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 number 26, Bajomo Ijaye Ojokoro, Lagos state, was convicted on a two-count charge of membership of an unlawful society and possession of a local made pistol without license
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 Afolayan to 10 years for the second count of being possession of local made pistol
He,however, did not give the convict an option of fine, adding that the sentence should run concurrently.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Inspector 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 officer stopped the defendant who was on a motorcycle with a black cross bag and searched him, and a locally made pistol was found in his bag without license 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.