5 days ago
36 ARTICLE AD
A Special Anti-Cultism Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, sentenced 35-year-old Timileyin Afolayan to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms and another seven years for belonging to a secret cult.
Afolayan, 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, stated that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty as charged.
Oke ruled, “The evidence presented by the prosecution is tenable, and you are therefore sentenced to seven years in prison for the first count.”
The Magistrate also convicted Afolayan on the second count of possessing a locally made pistol without a licence and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Oke, however, ruled that the sentence should run concurrently and that there would be no option of a fine.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on October 19, 2023, at Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.
Rawlings explained that the convict was arrested by police officers conducting a stop-and-search operation in the area.
“One of the officers stopped the defendant, who was on a motorcycle carrying a black crossbody bag. A search of the bag revealed a locally made pistol, which he had no licence or permit for.
“Upon his arrest, the defendant made a confessional statement admitting that he belonged to the Buccaneers secret cult group, popularly known as the Alora Confraternity,” she said.
Rawlings stated that the offence contravened Sections 34 and 36 of the Secret Cults Prohibition and Special Provisions Law of Ogun State, 2016.
She added that it also violated Section 27(a) of the Firearms Act, Cap F.28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.
