A special cultism court sitting in Abeokuta on Friday sentenced Adebayo Saheed to seven years imprisonment for belonging to a secret society.

The magistrate, Mr O.L. Oke, said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the 21-year-old defendant was guilty as charged.

Oke held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable.

He, therefore, sentenced Saheed without the option of a fine.

“There is no doubt that there has been an increase in the occurrence of cult-related clashes in Ogun and it is the duty of the court to send a strong message to other would-be offenders.

“I hope this will serve as a lesson and warning to others not to commit such an offence because there is no benefit in being a member of any proscribed society,” the magistrate said.

The police charged Saheed with one count of belonging to an unlawful society.

The prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, had earlier informed the court that the defendant committed the offence with five others still at large on July 7, 2023, at about 8:30 pm in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun.

Rawlings said the defendant and his accomplices were sighted by the police behind Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic in a hidden place, chanting songs.

According to her, when they were apprehended, five of them escaped and the defendant was caught.