Adewale Adenekan, a 22-year-old resident of No. 3, Olaoluwa Close, Arigbanla, Arigbajo in the Ifo area of Ogun, was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Ogun State Special Cultism Court in Abeokuta for being part of a secret society.
Adenekan was found guilty of conspiracy and membership of an unlawful society.
The Magistrate, Mr O.L. Oke, stated that the prosecution adequately proved the defendant's guilt.
Oke also confirmed the credibility of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
As a result, Adenekan was handed a seven-year prison term without the option of a fine.
The court aims to send a strong message to others due to the rising number of cult-related clashes in Ogun.
Oke expressed hope that the sentence would serve as a deterrent and cautioned against involvement in proscribed societies.
During the trial, the prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, revealed that Adenekan committed the offence on November 6, 2023, at Arigbajo in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun.
Rawlings explained that the police invited the convict after arresting some of his fellow cult members during a clash.
She stated that the suspects implicated Adenekan in their testimony.
The prosecutor disclosed that the convict confessed to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.
She pointed out that the offence violated 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.
As part of efforts to address the issue of cult-related clashes in Sagamu and the associated killings, the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, along with the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, announced an amnesty deal for repentant cultists in the state on Tuesday.
The police chief reported that 48 members of various cult groups, primarily Eiye Confraternity and Aiye, renounced their membership and surrendered their illegal firearms to the police for confiscation.
Alamutu cautioned cultists in the state to take advantage of the amnesty deal, emphasizing that severe consequences await those caught after the amnesty period ends.
