Ogun Court Sentences 27-Year-Old Cultist to Seven Years in Prison

A 27-year-old man, Afeeze Ishola, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by an Ogun Special Anti-Cultism Court in Abeokuta for his involvement in the banned Eiye Confraternity cult group.

Ishola, a resident of Otitoloju Street, Mile 2, along Ayetoro Road in Abeokuta, was convicted on a single charge of belonging to an unlawful society on Friday.

During the trial, prosecutor Inspector Olaide Rawlings presented evidence that the offence took place on September 2, 2022, at around 4:30 a.m. at Opara II Estate, Rounder, in Abeokuta. Rawlings stated that Ishola was apprehended by a community security guard who had been monitoring the area.

“Ishola was found wandering the community and was stopped by the security guard for questioning,” Rawlings explained.

The prosecutor revealed that Ishola confessed to being on the run from a rival cult group attempting to harm him, after which he was handed over to a police officer in the neighborhood. Further interrogation led Ishola to admit to his membership in the Eiye Confraternity.

The offence contravenes Section 34 and is punishable under Section 36 of the Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism, and Other Anti-Violence and Related Offences Law, 2016.

Magistrate J.A. Akan ruled that the prosecution had proven Ishola’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence presented was credible. As a result, Ishola was sentenced to seven years in prison, without the option of a fine.