Court sentences 20-year-old man to four years in jail for stealing electric wires
Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Ugar Ebenezer to four years imprisonment for stealing.
The 20-year-old convict was arraigned before Magistrate Dolamu Babalogbon on the 23rd of August 2022 on a two-count charge bordering on breaking and stealing.
The charge read that Ugar Ebenezer on 18/8/2022 around 11:00 am at Elemi Street, Off Afao Road, Ado Ekiti in the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District did break into the dwelling house of one to Daramola Olubunmi and commit felony, also on same day, date and place did steal bundles of copper wire valued N1.4M, property of Daramola Olubunmi.
The prosecutor said the offences were contrary and punishable under sections 322 and 302 (1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
In his statement to the Police, the complainant said, I am a retiree, I was supervising a site for my elder brother, I visited the house on that day to ascertain the completion of the wiring, I left the place not quite long when I received calls from the community residents around 11:00 am that somebody has entered the building and carted all the electric wire but has been arrested, I rushed back to the place, I saw the defendant and the stolen wires, I reported and handed him over to the Police, he concluded.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Inspector Sadiq Adeniyi called three witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, cutting pliers, and bundles of electric wires among others as exhibits, the defendant was led in evidence to speak in his own defence by his lawyer Adeyinka Opaleke, he begged the court to tamper justice with mercy, he called no witness.
In his judgement, Magistrate Dolamu Babalogbon said, ”I have critically considered the nature and circumstances surrounding the instant case and judged that the prosecution has proved his case beyond a reasonable doubt, I find the defendant guilty as charged.
On count one, the defendant is sentenced to one year imprisonment, in count two, he is sentenced to three years imprisonment, the terms are to be served concurrently or in lieu of the terms, and the convict is to restitute the sum of N1m to the nominal complainant.
