Akure court jails artisan for poultry farm burglary, N1.3m equipment theft

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has sentenced a 28-year-old welder, Tobi Babatunde, to four years in prison for burglary and theft at a poultry farm.

Babatunde was arraigned by the police on a three-count charge for unlawfully breaking into a poultry farm and stealing a feed mill engine valued at N1.3 million.

The prosecuting officer, Mr Nelson Akintimehin, informed the court that the convict burgled the poultry farm belonging to one Veronica Titus between June 2024 and July 2025 at the Mopol Barracks area of Owode in Akure North Local Government Area.

According to the prosecution, Babatunde carted away two electric motors from the poultry feed mill, with each motor valued at N650,000.

Babatunde pleaded guilty to the charges. The prosecutor then requested the court to impose a custodial sentence to deter similar offences.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate O. Omotosho stated that the evidence presented, along with the defendant’s admission of guilt, established the prosecution’s case beyond reasonable doubt.

“After reviewing the facts before the court, the defendant is found guilty on all three counts,” Magistrate Omotosho ruled.

She convicted Babatunde under Sections 423 and 390 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

He was sentenced to: Two years’ imprisonment for the first count, with an option of a N200,000 fine; One year’s imprisonment each for the second and third counts, with a N50,000 fine on each.

The magistrate ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently.