Five MAPOLY students arraigned for illegal arms possession
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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