5 MAPOLY cultists nabbed with locally-made gun, arraigned

Five suspected members of the Black Axe, a prohibited secret cult society, have been arraigned before an Ogun Magistrate Court.

The accused, Olawale Olaniyi, Adeyemi Azeez, Olufalo Bidemi, Osilaja Hammed and Bashorun Sodiq, are all students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta.

All face are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to a secret cult, Punch

The court heard that the accused were members of the Black Axe 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.

They were also unlawfully in possession a locally-made gun, an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act (Cap 28) Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

Represented by counsels Bolarinwa Odeyale and B.O Saidu, the accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read.

Three of the accused, Olawale Olaniyi, Olufalo Bidemi and Bashorun Sodiq, were granted bail while the other two, Adeyemi Azeez and Osilaja Hammed failed to meet bail demands and were ordered to be remanded in prison.