Osun court jails six over electoral offences, firearms possession

An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has sentenced six individuals to varying prison terms for conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms during the 2023 general elections.

The convicted persons, Yinusa Rahmon, Moshood Hamzat, Awotunde Gbenga, Adebayo Mutiu, Femi Taiwo, and Najeem Omotuntun, were arraigned on a three-count charge brought by the Federal Government, represented by counsel Fatima Adesina.

They were accused of conspiring to possess firearms, unlawful possession of firearms, and engaging in conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, contrary to Sections 121, 126 (1)(f), and 125 (1)(i) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Delivering judgment on 11 July 2025, Justice M. Awe found the defendants guilty on the charges of conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms, but acquitted them on the third count related to breach of peace.

“The prosecution failed to substantiate the allegations in count three. Each defendant is therefore discharged and acquitted on that charge,” Justice Awe declared.

During the trial, the court heard that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the defendants on 18 March 2023 at a hotel in Ila Orangun while the House of Assembly election was underway.

Prosecution witnesses testified that the accused were found in possession of two locally made barrel guns, six cartridges, two cutlasses, one battle axe, and a Fulani sword.

For the first count of conspiracy, the judge sentenced each defendant to one year in prison with hard labour or a fine of N100,000.

On the second count of unlawful possession of firearms, each was handed a two-year sentence with hard labour or a fine of N200,000.

Justice Awe ordered that the prison terms would run concurrently, while the fines would be cumulative.

The ruling comes as part of ongoing legal proceedings to hold accountable individuals arrested for electoral offences during the 2023 polls.