A Special Anti-Cultism Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday, sentenced one Ibukun Oritunmise, 27 to 10 years imprisonment for belonging to a secret cult and unlawful possession of pistols.

The convict was arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and being in possession of  pistols and one live cartridge.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges

Delivering judgment, the Magistrate, O.O Ogundele, held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and pronounced the convict guilty as charged.

Ms Ogunbade sentenced Oritunmise to five years imprisonment for count one for conspiracy, and seven years for count two for belonging to an unlawful secret society.

The magistrate also sentenced the convict to 10 years in prison for counts three, four and five over unlawful possession of pistols and live cartridges.

She said, “The sentence is without an option of fine and is to run concurrently.’’

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the convict committed the offences on April 6, 2024, at 6:36p.m at Faari-Ilese in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Mr Rawlings said the police received information that there was a robbery activity at Ilese Expressway.

He stated. ”When the police team got to the scene of the robbery, they saw the defendant on a motorcycle and he was arrested. Upon interrogation, he was searched and was found with two locally made pistols and one live cartridge without licence. He also made a confession that he was a member of a secret cult, Aiye confraternity.’’

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The prosecutor said the offences contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun 2006 and Sections 35 and 36 of the Secret Cults Prohibition and Special Provisions Law of Ogun 2016.

According to Mr Rawlings, the offence committed also contravene Sections 3, 27(a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2014.

 (NAN