The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned seven men before the Ilaro Magistrate Court over alleged unlawful possession of firearms, abduction of Amotekun operatives and theft of a locally made single-barrel gun valued at N150,000.
The defendants are Dosunmu Amos, 34; Abisekun Seun, 22; Ojo Olanrewaju, 32; Joseph Aremu, 33; Alao Ileyemi, 30; Akeem Ege, 45; and Elijah Eriwole, 32.
They were arraigned on Friday before Chief Magistrate I, Mrs F.A. Ojelade, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, abduction, stealing and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
According to charge sheet No. M/27/2026, signed by ASP Adeboye Olayiwola, the defendants and others still at large allegedly conspired to commit a felony involving unlawful possession of firearms between October 14 and 15, 2026, at Alagbon area, Owode-Afon, within the Ilaro Magisterial District.
The second count alleged that the defendants were found in unlawful possession of a locally made long-barrel gun without a licence on October 14 at about 4 p.m., contrary to the provisions of the Firearms Act.
Counts three and four bordered on the alleged abduction of two operatives of the Ogun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, at its Owode-Afon outpost on October 15 at about 5:30 p.m.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants abducted two operatives, AMT Salami Yakubu, 31, and AMT Abelewa Soliudeen, 37, and concealed their whereabouts, preventing anyone entitled to access them from discovering where they were being held.
In count five, the defendants were accused of stealing a locally made single-barrel gun valued at N150,000 belonging to the Amotekun Corps.
The sixth count alleged that the defendants invaded the Amotekun outpost and fired gunshots sporadically into the air, causing fear among residents of the neighbourhood and engaging in conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
The defendants’ pleas were not taken.
Prosecution counsel, ASP A.S. Abiodun, subsequently moved an application pursuant to Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ogun State, 2017, seeking an order for the defendants’ remand.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Ojelade held that although the court had jurisdiction over the offences listed in counts one, two, five and six, it lacked the jurisdiction to try the alleged offences contained in counts three and four.
Consequently, in the interest of justice, the magistrate ordered that the defendants be remanded for an initial period of 60 days.
The case was adjourned until January 15, 2027.
