- Safiu Kehinde
A 29-year-old man, Ismail Shuab, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a special cultism court in Abeokuta for unlawfully being in possession of a locally made pistol.
Shaub, who resides at Oko-Oba Igboora in Oyo state was sentenced on a count charge of unlawful possession of firearms.
The Magistrates, Mr O.L Oke, in his judgement, said that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the defendant was guilty as charged.
Oke also held that the evidence presented by the prosecution were tenable, therefore, convicting Shuab to spend five years in Nigeria correctional service centre without option of fine.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Aug. 11, 2023, at Laluwe Village via Imala Area in Abeokuta.
Rawlings said the defendant was in possession of a locally made pistol without license.
According to her, the defendant was accosted by a team of policemen led by one Insp. Odetola Taiwo from Olorunda Police Post of Imala Division.
“While the defendant was on his Bajaj motorcycle at Laluwe black spot, the policemen stopped and searched him, and they found a locally made pistol without license.
“When interrogated about the pistol he could not give a vivid explanation of the gun found in his possession”, she said
She noted that the offence committed contravene Section 27 of the firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.