CITIZENS COMPASS —An Ogun Special Cultism Court sitting in Abeokuta on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, sentenced a 22-year-old man, Adewale Adenekan, to seven years in prison must for belonging to a secret society.

Adenekan, who resides at No. 3, Olaoluwa Close, Arigbanla Arigbajo in Ifo, Ogun, was convicted on a two-count charge of conspiracy and membership of an unlawful society.

The Magistrate, Mr O.L. Oke, said that prosecution proved  beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty as charged.

Oke also held that pieces of evidence presented by prosecution were tenable.

He, therefore, sentenced Adenekan to seven years in prison without an option of fine.

There is no doubt that there has been an increase in the occurrence of cult-related clashes in Ogun, and it is the duty of the court to send a strong message to  others.

“I hope this will serve as a lesson and warning to others not to commit such an offence. There is no benefit in being a member of any proscribed society,” Oke said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the convict committed the offence sometime on Nov. 6 at Arigbajo in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun.

Rawlings said that the convict was invited by the police when some of his cult members were arrested during a cult clash.

She said that the suspects mentioned Adenekan as part of them.

The prosecutor said that the convict confessed that he was a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

She said that the offence contravened 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.