Five students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta were on
Friday arraigned before a Magistrate Court in the Ogun State capital for
unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to a prohibited secret
cult.
The accused persons are Olawale Olaniyi, Adeyemi Azeez, Olufalo Bidemi, Osilaja Hammed and Bashorun Sodiq.
They are facing a three-count charge, which ranged from conspiracy,
unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to a secret cult.
The charge read that the accused, on August 5, 2013 at Moshood
Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokut,a in the Abeokuta Magisterial District
belonged to a group called Black Axe, a secret cult society, contrary to
Section 3 and punishable under Section 5 of the Secret Cult
(Prohibition and Special Prohibition) Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The accused persons were also alleged to be unlawfully in possession
a locally-made gun, and thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 3 of the Firearms Act (Cap 28) Laws of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 2004.
The arraignment of the accused was based on the legal advice of the
Director of Public Prosecution in a letter with reference number
AB11/S.9631A/12 dated July 21, 2014, which recommended the trial.
When the charge was read to the accused, they pleaded not guilty.
Two counsel, Bolarinwa Odeyale and B.O Saidu appeared for the accused.
Odeyale pleaded for renewal of the bail earlier granted the accused
before their case file was sent to the DPP but the court noted that it
could only be granted if a new application was filed or the sureties
came forward to update the bail application for the benefits of the
accused.
Odeyale was able to perfect his argument and prayers in favour of
three of the accused; Olawale Olaniyi, Olufalo Bidemi and Bashorun
Sodiq, who were granted bail. Two others, Adeyemi Azeez and Osilaja were
ordered to be remanded in prison for their inability to meet the bail
conditions.
The case was adjourned till February 19, 2015.
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