A special cultism court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday sentenced a 29- year-old man Ismail Shuab, to five years in prison for unlawfully being in possession of a locally made pistol.

Mr Shaub, who resides at Oko-Oba Igboora in Oyo Sstate was sentenced on a count charge of unlawful possession of firearms.

In his judgment, the Magistrate, O.L Oke, said that the prosecution, proved hits case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the defendant was guilty as charged.

Mr Oke also held that the evidence presented by the prosecution were tenable, therefore, convicting Shuab to spend five years in a correctional service centre without an option of fine.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on August 11, 2023 at Laluwe Village via Imala Area in Abeokuta.

Mr Rawlings said the defendant was in possession of a locally made pistol without licence.

According to her, the defendant was accosted by a team of policemen led by one Inspector  Odetola Taiwo from Olorunda Police Post of Imala Division.

She said, “While the defendant was on his Bajaj motorcycle at Laluwe black spot, the policemen stopped and searched him, and they found a locally made pistol without licence. When interrogated about the pistol he could not give a vivid explanation of the gun found in his possession.’’

She noted that the offence committed contravene Section 27 of the firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

(NAN)