Police arraign Five students on illegal possession of firearms

                            
Police arraign Five students on illegal possession of firearms – The authorities on Fri­day arraigned 5 undergraduates of the Moshood Abi­ola Polytechnic, Abeoku­ta, Ogun State prior to an Isabo Magistrate Court on illegal possession of firearms and member of Black Axe, the prohibited secret cult.

The accused students in suit numbered MA/781c, include Olawale Olaniyi, Adeyemi Azeez,Olufalo Bidemi, Osilaja Hammed and Bashorun Sodiq. They are facing a 3-count charge, ranging from conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to a secret cult.

According to the amended charge, “the ac­cused thereabout August 5,2013, at Moshood Abi­ola Polytechnic,Abeokuta 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 charge sheet fur­ther stated that the accused persons unlawfully had in their possession a locally made gun, thereby com­mitting an offence con­trary to section 3 of the firearms act(Cap 28) laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,2004.

When the charge was read, the accused students who 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 stu­dents before their case file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution.

But the court noted that this 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.

However, the counsel was able to perfect his argument and prayers in favour of three of the ac­cused, including Olawale Olaniyi, Olufalo Bidemi and Bashorun Sodiq, who were granted bail.

Two other accused stu­dents, Adeyemi Azeez and Osilaja, were ordered to be remanded for their in­ability to meet up the bail conditions.

Magistrate Emmanuel Adekunte in his ruling, ad­journed further hearing till February 19,2015.