Cultism: Court sentences 17 students to 6 years imprisonment in Borno
Borno State High Court has sentenced 17 people to six years jail term each for cultism and conspiracy in the state, Justice Umar Fadawu sentenced the convicts in Maiduguri.
They include Arnold Augustine, Onu Chidubem, David Emmanuel, Awuto Abayomi, Mustapha Abdulkadir, Lavi Ephraim and Onuegbu Godspower Chibuzor. Others were Mohammed Adamu, Calvin Ijafiya, Chris Kallu, Totsi Yohanna, Samuel Talba, Donald Omguze and Joseph Olaiya.
According to a report, most of the convicts’ are students at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and Ramat Polytechnic in Borno state.
Based on an intelligence report, police raid and arrested the cultists on September 21, 2019, at Bagani Hotel for being members of an unlawful society, the Black Axe.
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They were sentenced to six years each for the two counts charge and will run concurrently.
In his judgment yesterday, Justice Fadawu said: “There is evidence before this court that each of the suspects has committed the offences of conspiracy and initiation of others into the Black cult group.” He also said the convicts were charged under Section 97 subsection B of the Penal Code, explaining that they were charged for initiating other members into the unlawful society.
Counsel to the convicts, Ahmed Hamman said they have exhibited remorse and regrets and urged the court to temper justice with mercy, as they have learnt their lessons from their respective experiences.
Responding to the judgment, Borno State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan, expressed delight with the court’s verdict and hopes that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to others practising similar criminal acts.
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