BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have arrested a 33-year-old man, Abiodun Monsuru, for allegedly terrorising members of the public with charms and guns.
When arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, the suspect was slammed with a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, cartridges, ammunition and criminal charms.
Monsuru was accused of colluding with others, now at large, to terrorise residents of Osogbo and Egbatedo, and causing panic on March 11, 2023.
The charge reads, “That you Abiodun Monsuru, and others now at large, on the 11th day of March, 2023 at about 10:00am at Egbatedo Area, Osogbo, Osun State, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of firearms, cartridges, ammunition, going armed, criminal charms and being members of unlawful society and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“That you (Monsuru) and others now at large on the same date and time, did unlawfully have in your possession one locally made cut-to-size gun and one dummy gun and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(a)(I) of the Firearms Cap F. 28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“You did have in your possession six cartridges, two beretta pistol’s ammunition and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 and punishable under Section 27(1)(b)(ii) of the Firearms Act, Cap F. 28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“Monsuru did unlawfully go armed in public without any lawful justification in such a manner as to cause terror and/or panic to the people of Osogbo and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 80 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“That you did unlawfully engage yourselves in unlawful society known as Aye Confraternity, a secret cult and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 64 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“You did unlawfully have in your possession criminal charms and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 213 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. His client, Kehinde Adepoju, urged the court to grant Monsuru bail in liberal terms.
Objecting the bail application, police prosecutor, Rasaq Olayiwola, claimed that the defendant would perpetrate further crime if released to the public.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara asked the defendant to bring a formal bail application and ordered that Monsuru be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre in the interim. The matter was adjourned till May 23 for mention.
