The Ogun State Government has proposed sweeping reforms to its criminal justice system that would make members of unlawful societies liable for crimes committed in furtherance of their groups’ objectives, while also creating a dedicated office to support victims of crime.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun state.
Rcall that the Ogun State Executive Council approved four critical criminal justice bills during its statutory meeting held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to address escalating security challenges like cultism, ritual killings, and organized extortion. State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), officially announced the decisions. Following the council’s approval, the administration prepared the legislative package for immediate transmission to the Ogun State House of Assembly to modernize the state’s penal codes.
The foundational pillar of this legislative push is the Group Liability for Offences of Violence, Extortion and Secret Societies (GLOVES) Bill, which establishes collective criminal responsibility for organized crime. Under this proposed framework, every member of an unlawful or proscribed group faces joint liability for violent actions or financial extortion carried out by any individual member in furtherance of the group’s agenda. The Ministry of Justice drafted this bill to systematically close existing legal loopholes that previously allowed cultists and syndicate leaders to escape prosecution by distancing themselves from physical crimes committed by their associates
According to him, the proposed legislation is among four criminal justice bills already approved by the Ogun State Executive Council for transmission to the House of Assembly to strengthen public safety and address identified gaps in the state’s criminal justice system.
“We have come up with four bills, which the executive council approved last week that we should present to the House of Assembly for passage into law”, he stated.
Ogungbade explained that one of the proposed laws, titled the Group Liability for Offences of Violence, Extortion and Secret Societies Bill, otherwise known as the Gloves Bill, seeks to address difficulties prosecutors often face in securing convictions for cult-related killings.
“Essentially, there are four and then these four have been carefully crafted to meet gaps, which we have identified in the criminal justice system and in no order of priority, the first one is what we know as the group liability for offenses of violence, extortion and secret societies bill, which we have referred to as the gloves bill,” he said.
He noted that while many suspects admit belonging to secret societies, they frequently deny taking part in killings carried out by fellow members, making prosecution difficult.
“So what we seek to do with this bill is to have the law now hold every member of an unlawful society responsible for crimes committed, and this is important, in furtherance of the objectives of that unlawful society. So if you willingly take the oath of secret society, and you know the objectives… you can no longer hide under the fact that, oh, I’m just a member, I did not participate in the killing of X,” he clarified.
Ogungbade said the proposed legislation became necessary because cultism has evolved beyond its traditional base in tertiary institutions, spreading into communities and involving various categories of people. He warned that the changing nature of cult activities poses a growing security threat that requires urgent legislative intervention.
“Cultism has now moved beyond the walls of tertiary institutions, particularly in Ogun state. We now have artisans, bricklayers, vulcanizers, becoming active members of cults, and experience has shown that they are even more deadly than the ones operating within the walls of tertiary institutions”
The Attorney-General said the bill also introduces innovative evidential provisions that would enable the state to rely on specific conduct as evidence of membership in unlawful societies, including the dissemination of propaganda or possession of cult-related paraphernalia.
“If you deliberately participate in dissemination of information or propaganda of an unlawful society, you cannot turn around to say, well, I’m not a member, or if you are found in possession and distribution of paraphernalia of a secret society, you cannot claim not to be a member”
He added that stakeholders would be invited to contribute during legislative consideration of the bill, describing the proposal as a decisive step in tackling cultism.
“I am certain that in the course of consideration of this bill, the House of Assembly will itself invite stakeholders to comment, so that people will know that we are departing from that which has not really worked and we are going into an era where we want to be decisive against cultism”
Responding to concerns that group liability could infringe constitutional rights, Ogungbade said adequate safeguards had been built into the legislation.
He said the government drew lessons from international legal frameworks used to combat organised crime, particularly laws introduced in the United States against the Mafia, insisting the proposal remained within constitutional limits.
“Along the way, there will be judicial interpretations, and we will, at the end of the day, get to the point where certain provisions will be upheld as being in compliance with the constitution,” he said.
The Attorney-General also disclosed that the state would establish a Victims Support Office under the proposed Victims’ Rights Bill, aimed at improving the treatment of crime victims and restoring public confidence in the justice system.
According to him, the office, to be domiciled within the Ministry of Justice, will provide psychological counselling, rehabilitation services and case support for victims.
“The beauty of this bill is the fact that we will now have a one-stop office, domiciled in the Ministry of Justice, that will cater to the needs of victims,” he said.
He explained that victims would enjoy a Charter of Rights guaranteeing compassionate treatment, timely updates on investigations and prosecutions, notification whenever suspects are granted bail or released, protection from intimidation and access to compensation.
Ogungbade further disclosed that victims would, for the first time, have the opportunity to address courts after conviction but before sentencing, allowing judges to hear directly how offences affected them before determining punishment.
“The victim will have a say, the victim can state exactly how he or she has been impacted by the conduct of the offender. So that is also an innovation contained in this law,” he said.
The Attorney-General said the proposed Victims’ Rights Bill would strengthen the rights of crime victims by ensuring they remain informed throughout the criminal justice process while protecting them from intimidation or further harm, particularly in sensitive cases such as sexual offences.
“The victim will have a right to be informed that, well, this offender, is out on bail, where he has been convicted, he has been released, the victim will have a right to know. The victim also will have a right to be protected, to be shielded from the perpetrator. And you see, this is very important, particularly in cases of sexual molestation” he said.
He added that the proposed legislation would go beyond guaranteeing legal rights by institutionalising support services for victims of crime. According to him, the law would establish a dedicated office within the Ogun Ministry of Justice to coordinate rehabilitation, counselling and other assistance for victims, while strengthening collaboration with relevant government agencies.
“We have been working in conjunction with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in some of these cases. But now, we will have it in the form of a law, setting up an office that victims can relate with, with regard to their needs within Ogun state”
