From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A Lokoja Magistrate Court has sentenced a National Diploma (ND II) student of Kogi State Polytechnic, Shehu Mohammed to eight years in prison over illegal possession of firearm and unlawful association.
In his Judgement, Magistrate Tenimu Mohammed said he convicted the accused on the three count charge having pleaded guilty to the offenses preferred against him by the prosecution.
Mohammed said the accused admitted committing the crime of unlawful association, illegal possession of firearm and membership of a cult group.
Samuel Ikutanwa Esq., the prosecuting counsel had earlier upon arraignment alleged the offences of unlawful association, illegal possession of firearm and belonging to an outlawed cult group against the accused.
Our Correspondent reports that the convicted student with Matriculation Number 2018/ND/PAD/170 was arrested with a locally fabricated revolver and five rounds of live ammunition at the institution’s main entrance gate on on 9th April.
The prosecution had said that the arrest of Mohammed was made possible by the “Strong Security Network” put in place to halt possible attempts to breach the ban on End-of-Examination Celebrations in the institution.
Mohammed was said to be coming to the campus purportedly to write his ND II Final Examination and was stopped by the “stop and search” officer and asked to hand over his bag for a search.
He was said to have immediately taken to his heels on realising that he would be caught with the pistol and live ammunition.
It was however too late for him as he was instantly overpowered by the institution’s security personnel, arrested and handed over to the Police for prosecution.
Magistrate Mohammed however gave the convicted student an option of fine of N8,000 in lieu of the eight years in prison.
