An Ogun State Special Cultism Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Wednesday sentenced a 22-year-old man, Adewale Adenekan, to seven years in prison for belonging to a secret society.
The convict, who resides at 3, Olaoluwa Close, Arigbanla Arigbajo in Ifo, was convicted on a two-count charge.
The charges were those of conspiracy and membership of an unlawful society.
The Magistrate, O. L. Oke, said the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty as charged.
Also Read:
- As Elegushi marks 14 years on the throne, by Temitope Oyefeso
- Bello tackles EFCC over reported refund of $760,000 by his child’s school
- Bello: Ex-presidential aide queries school for collecting $700,000 excess fees
- Man caught with human head exhumed from CAN cemetery
- Yahaya Bello: EFCC now a judge in its own cause, by Sabiu Gaya
Oke also held that pieces of evidence presented by prosecution were tenable.
He, therefore, sentenced Adenekan to seven years in prison without an option of fine.
He held: “There is no doubt that there has been an increase in the occurrence of cult-related clashes in Ogun, and it is the duty of the court to send a strong message to others.
“I hope this will serve as a lesson and warning to others not to commit such an offence.
“There is no benefit in being a member of any proscribed society.”
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the convict committed the offence sometime on November 6, 2023 at Arigbajo in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Rawlings said that the convict was invited by the police when some of his cult members were arrested during a cult clash.
She said that the suspects mentioned Adenekan as part of them.
The prosecutor said that the convict confessed that he was a member of the Eiye Confraternity.
She said that the offence contravened Section 45(b)and 35(b) of the Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Property, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism and other Anti Violence Related Matters Law of 2016.