By Oluwatosin Ojo
An Akure Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, sentenced one Oluwarotimi Ayomide, 21, to a 13-year imprisonment for burglary and theft.
The convict, who was arraigned on June 5, 2025, for a 4-count charge, broke into the shops of Mr Ebenezer Odole and Mr Mark Omotosho on June 1, 2025, and stole grinding machine, iron rods, railings.
The presiding magistrate, Mr Damilola Shekoni, said that the prosecution had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt that the convict actually broke into the shops having caught him with the stolen items from the shops.
According to him, the argument of the convict that he was only on his way to greet and play with his friend at 5:00 am and that the bag of items found with him was dropped by someone being chased by some people could not hold water.
He added that no reasonable person could be found in such a time of the day without any tangible or serious engagement.
The magistrate, therefore, sentenced the convict to four years imprisonment in count one; two years imprisonment in count two; four years imprisonment in count three and three years imprisonment in count four with an option of N400,000 fine.
He explained that the prison terms would run concurrently starting from the first day of arraignment, June 5, 2025 of the convict.