Firearms Deal & Cultism: Ex-LG Boss & 7 Others Charged In Court

According to a report on SaharaReporters, a former Chairman of Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State and Labour Party chieftain in the state, Afolabi Adedayo Mabogunje, has been arraigned before a Magistrate's Court sitting at Oke Eda in Akure, the state capital, for alleged illegal possession of firearms and robbery. He was charged alongside a chief in Ifon, Eniola Obasoto, at the headquarters of the local government for conspiracy. Also arraigned in connection with the case were Temitope Abiola (40), Agun  Adeniyi (39), David Agunloye (30), Apejoye Ayodeji (30) and Boyede Owodara (27), accused of being members of secret cults.

Their offence contravened Section 39, Vol.11 Laws of Ondo State, 2006. Mabogunje was alleged to have conspired with Temitope Abiola, Agun Adeniyi and others now at large, to commit felony to wit unlawful possession of firearm, among other things.

The charge, MAK/4686/2014, indicated that on 21 September, 2014, the accused unlawfully had in their possession one locally-made pistol and a Russian double barreled gun in contravention of Firearms Act and therefore committed an offence punishable under section 6(b) and (c) cap R11, Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that a team of Special Anti-Cultism Squad, headed by CSP John Mark, arrested the accused persons at different locations in the state. According to the Police prosecutor in charge of the case, Mabogunje, who was also a former chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, procured firearms illegally from the third accused person, Temitope Abiola, while Chief Eniola Obasoto supplied packets of cartridges and ammunition.
The defence counsel for the ex-council chief and the second accused person, Chief Olusola Oke, however, pleaded for the release of his clients on bail, arguing that the offences against them were not recognized by any law.