A High Court of Ezzangbo Judicial Division sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has sentenced a man simply identified as Kingsley to 23 years and six months imprisonment for belonging to a secret cult group among other offences.
The court presided over by Justice Esther Awo-Ota, having found Kingsley (surname withheld) guilty as charged, sentenced him to 23 years and six months jail in a three count-charge bordering on unlawful possession of firearm, cultism and coercion.
Kingsley received a two years jail term for the offence of unlawful possession of a firearm which is punishable under Section 27(1)(b)(i) of the Firearms Act cap F 28 volume 7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007 as applicable in Ebonyi State.
For offence of cultism and carrying offensive weapons, the court sentenced Kingsley to 21 years imprisonment while for offence of coercion; he was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
The defendant had entered into a guilty plea.
After presentation of facts of the case and hearing by the police prosecution team, the court found him guilty as charged and convicted him on all counts.
The judge ordered that the sentence for the three counts should run concurrently.
Awo-Ota, while delivering judgment said, “I have carefully considered the defendant’s plea in mitigation of sentence particularly the fact that he is a first time offender and is responsible for his aged parents. I have also weighed in the balance the interest of the victim and the society, especially the fact that the offence of unlawful possession of firearms and cultism are prevalent in our society. Crucially, cultism has devastating effects on not only the cultists but on the victims and the society at large and must be curbed in the interest of posterity.
“Now, section 27(1)(b)(i)of Firearms Act under which the defendant is charged prescribes a penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years upon conviction for an offence under section 4 of the Act. Consequently, Kingsley (surname withheld) having found you guilty and accordingly convicted you for the offence of unlawful possession of firearm as charged in count 1 of the information, the sentence of this court upon you is two years imprisonment.
“Also section 5 of the law of Prohibition secret cult activities and carrying offensive weapons in Ebonyi State cap 12 provides that anyone who contravenes any of the section 3 and 4 of the said law shall upon trial and conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than 21 years without option of fine. Kingsley (surname withheld) having found you guilty and accordingly convicted you for the offence of cultism as charged under section 3 and 4 of the said law in count 2 of the information.
“The sentence of this court is the mandatory minimum sentence of 21 years imprisonment without option of fine.
“Finally, section 6 of Violence against persons prohibition law 002 of Ebonyi State under which the defendant is charged for the offence of coercion in count 3 of the information, prescribes a term of 3 years for anyone found guilty and convicted under that section. Kingsley (surname withheld) having found you guilty and accordingly convicted you for the offence of coercion under the relevant section, the sentence of this court upon you is six months imprisonment.
“The sentences are to run concurrently and shall discount the one year and 14 days that the defendant already spent in custody. It is so ordered.”
