BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Two men suspected to be cultists have been ordered to be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court in Osun State for allegedly threatening to kill some landowners and converting the economic trees on their land.
The defendants, Akindele Tunde, aged 25 and Taiwo Godwin, 31, were said to have committed the offence alongside others said to be at large on or before September 19, 2023 at Ifewara village in the state.
The Police dragged them to court and slammed them with an eight-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, stealing and membership of unlawful society.
According to police prosecutor, John Idoko, the duo unlawfully converted to their own use, eight economic trees, property which have not been valued and belonging to Mudashiru Odewale and Julius Odebunmi.
“That you Akindele Tunde and others, now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully engage yourselves in unlawful society known as Aye Confraternity, a secret cult group 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,” one of the counts read.
Idoko told the court that the accused persons caused breach of public peace by trespassing into the parcels of land of the two complainants.
It further read, “That you Akindele Tunde Taiwo Godwin and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by publicly threatening to kill anyone found on/around a parcel of land situate at Oba Road, Lakanye, Osogbo, Osun State, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”
While noting that the defendants also contravened section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002, Idoko emphasised that the rate of secret occultic groups in the state was worsening and urged the court to take notice of it in adjudicating the matter.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the offences. However, Magistrate A. Adeyeba asked them to furnish the court with a formal bail application.
He ordered that the duo be remanded in Ilesa prison custody pending their bail consideration.
