Amotekun arraigns 22 suspected cultists in Ondo

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, on Monday, arraigned no fewer than 22 suspects before a Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly belonging to various cult groups in the state.

The suspects, who were arraigned on four counts of conspiracy, were also alleged to be involved in cult-related violence in Owo, the headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects are Opeyemi Arohunmolase, Olatokun Kehinde, Seun Ogunleye, Balogun Imole, Ibrahim Waheed, Sheu Oluwaseun, Kareem Odunayo, Ijalana Oluwole, Emmanuel Destiny, Adebayo Daniel, and Temitope Oluwatodimu.

Others include Adebowale Opeyemi, Monday Abiodun, Johnson Bidemi, Oladugba Emmanuel, Ismael Suliaman, Samson Salau, Ogundele Olarewanju, Promise Ayomide, Okeowo Abiodun, Sule Ojo, and Olaniyi Marvellous.

The state prosecutor, O.F. Akeredolu, told the court that the accused and others at large, “on or about February 17, 2025, at Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, conspired to commit felonious offences, i.e., illegal possession of firearms and cultism.”

Akeredolu further stated that the accused were suspected to be members of unlawful societies and had in their possession a gun without a licence, stressing that the accused, at the same time, day, and place, riotously assembled themselves and acted in a manner that disturbed the peace of the community.

“The offence contravenes Sections 516 (A), 62(2), 64, and 69, as well as Section 27(1)(a)(I) of the Firearm Act, Cap F28 LFN, 2004.”

After the charges were read to them, the 22 defendants pleaded not guilty, while their lawyers urged the court to grant their clients bail on the ground that the offence for which they were charged was bailable.

Akeredolu, however, did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to remand the defendants to a correctional centre pending the satisfaction of their bail conditions.

Magistrate Damilola Sekoni granted each of the accused bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Ondo government.

As requested by the prosecution, the magistrate ordered the defendants to swear to an affidavit renouncing their membership and remanded them at the correctional centre until they met their bail conditions. The case was adjourned until April 17, 2025, for mention.