A Special Anti-Cultism Court in Ogun State, sitting in Abeokuta on Friday, sentenced 27-year-old Afeeze Ishola to seven years in a correctional facility after being found guilty of membership in a secret cult.
Ishola, who resides at Otitoloju Street, Mile 2, along Ayetoro Road in Abeokuta, was convicted on a one-count charge of being part of an unlawful society.
Magistrate Mr. J.A. Akan, delivering his ruling, affirmed that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge against Ishola beyond a reasonable doubt.
He highlighted that the evidence provided by the prosecution was compelling and substantiated the claim of Ishola’s involvement in cult activities.
Consequently, Ishola was handed a seven-year sentence, with no option for a fine.
In the court session, Prosecutor Inspector Olaide Rawlings informed the magistrate that the incident occurred on September 2, 2022, at approximately 4:30 a.m. at Opara 11 Estate Rounder, Abeokuta.
She explained that Ishola had been apprehended by a vigilant security guard monitoring the area. The defendant was seen loitering in the vicinity when the guard, noticing his suspicious behaviour, confronted him.
Ishola was attempting to flee from a rival cult group that had allegedly targeted him for assassination. After a brief struggle, the security officer detained him and handed him over to a police officer residing in the community.
Rawlings further disclosed that upon his arrest, Ishola confessed to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity Cult group.
She noted that the offence violated Section 34 and was punishable under Section 36 of the Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism, and other Anti-Violence and Related Offences Laws of 2016.
The court’s decision reinforces the ongoing efforts to curb cultism and violence in the state, sending a strong message about the consequences of engaging in illegal secret societies.
