4 University Students Remanded For Illegal Possession of Firearms

By Funminiyi Jimoh and Nnebulu Bob

No fewer than four  students of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State were Friday, arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo in connection with unlawful possession of firearms and membership prohibited secret cult.

The arraigned students are Olabanji Michael(23), Adewusi Michael (23), Oyinbo Kehinde (21) and Afolabi Yusuf (23) while the charge listed against them bordered on conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to a secret cult.

The charge sheet read in the court stated that the accused persons conspired among themselves on the 29th of August, 2017 to commit felony to wit fire arms and members of secret cult (Black Axe Secret Cult Confraternity).

It further stated that the accused persons threaten the public peace with the possession of unaccounted fire arms at Oduduwa University Area, Ipetumodu within the magisterial district, Osogbo.

The offence according to the charge was contrary to and punishable under Section 516, 64(a)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.II, Laws of Osun State, Nigeria, 2002 and Section 3 and 4 and punishable under section 27(1)b(I) of the Firearms Act Cap F.28, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Defense counsel, Barrister JP Joe applied for the bail of the accused persons in the most liberal terms.

But Police Prosecutor, Elisha Olusegun opposed the bail application, citing issues of Boko-Haram, Niger Delta Boys (Nigeria) as instance and reason why their issues should not be taken with levity hand.

Olusegun who said the accused are too young to be engaging in such act, saying investigations were still on and police are intensifying efforts to arrest the absconded ones, hence their release might jeopardize police investigations.

Consequently, the presiding magistrate, Mrs Olubukola Awodele ordered the accused persons to be remanded in Ilesha prison custody pending their reassignment on bail by the court administrative.