FOLORUNSHO KAZEEM V. THE STATE

NWEZE JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): At the Ilorin Division of the Kwara State High Court (coram: Folayan J), the appellant and two others were charged with the offence of belonging to, engaging in and associating with secret cults. The charge was laid under section 11 of the Secret Cults and Secret Societies in Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Laws of Kwara State, 2004. The first charge reads: “First charge That you Folorunsho Kazeem, Abolore Isiaka Tewogbola and Olayinka Oladipupo on or about 27 July 2004 at about 11.00am at the University of ILorin within the jurisdiction of this court belong to, engaged in and associated with secret cults within and outside the institutions of learning in the State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 11 of the Secret Cult and Secret Societies in Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Laws of Kwara State, 2004”. The trial court convicted the appellant. It awarded him a handsome jail term of ten years. He felt aggr…