A 20-year-old barber, Joseph Babatunde, has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for burglary and stealing by an Akire Chief Magistrates’ Court.
Babatunde, an ex-convict who pleaded guilty to the four-count charge brought against him, was sentenced by the Magistrate, Mrs. C.M. Omole, to four years in jail with hard labour each on counts one, two, and three, respectively, and two years in jail for count four with an option of a N180,000 fine.
With the Magistrate ruling that the sentence should run concurrently, the Prosecutor, Jejeniwa, informed the court that Babatunde, a notorious burglar who had earlier been convicted, committed the offence on May 10, 2024, at 10 p.m. at Ayoni Street, Akure.
Jejeniwa said that the convict and others at large unlawfully broke into the mechanic workshop of one Oluwole and stole a Toyota Hilux engine valued at N1 million.
He also alleged that the defendant, on May 19, 2024, at about 2 a.m. at Araromi Street, Ijoka, broke into the shop of the complainant and stole 18 plastic chairs valued at N87,000.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2016.
He said, “The alleged stealing was investigated, and the scene of the crime was visited. The stolen plastic chairs were recovered, and he was about to dispose of them while he had sold other stolen items.
“The defendant confessed to the commission of the crime,” the prosecutor stated.
Jejeniwa prayed that the defendant should be convicted accordingly.
Magistrate Omole found the defendant guilty of all the counts he was charged with and consequently sentenced him accordingly.
In another case before the same court, the convict, Babatunde, was docked for allegedly breaking into a Deeper Life Church, Covenant District, behind Oremeta Abusoro, Ijoka Road, Akure, and stealing a Sumec generator valued at N300,000 and some other items.
The magistrate admitted him to N500,000 in bail with two sureties in like sum.
