A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ilorin on Thursday ordered the remand of one Owolabi Shola in a Federal Correctional Centre for alleged membership of a cult and possession of Indian hemp.
Shola, a resident of Ganiki Area, Ilorin, was arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, belonging to gang of thieves, possession of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and membership of a secret cult.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ibijoke Olawoyin, who gave the order adjourned the case till Dec. 11 for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Al-Hassan Jibrin, had told the court that on Nov. 19, information was received that some hoodlums and cultists were terrorising Sango area of Ilorin.
According to Jibrin, the cultists gathered at Muyideen College of Education located in the area and were smoking Indian hemp as well as brandishing their weapons.
He said that a team of SARS operatives led by Insp Adebayo Christopher arrested the accused person.
The prosecutor said that a search was conducted on the defendant while a sharp axe and some parcels of Indian hemp were recovered from him.
Jibrin said that investigation conducted revealed that the accused person and others now at large, were members of the prohibited Eiye Secret Cult Society terrorising citizens of Sango area and its environs.
He said that the offences were contrary to Sections 97 and 306 of the Penal Code, Section 5a & b of the Indian Hemp Act, CAP 16 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as well as Section 1(1) of the Secret Cult Act, 2013.
The accused person, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
