By Sade Adewale, Ondo & Ayodele Popoola
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A 35-year-old man, Omoniyi Akintola, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an Ondo Chief Magistrate Court, over N400,000 theft.
The convict committed the offences on February 14,2022 at about 5:30pm at No. 4, Adeyemi College road, Ondo in the Ondo Magisterial District.
He was also alleged to have criminally and unlawfully obtained the sum of N400,000, from the complainant, one Victor Aderosoye, with the pretence to supply him cocoa beans, knowing same to be false.
The prosecutor, Supol Bernard Olagbayi, told the court that the convict also stole a cash sum of N400,000, property of the complainant.
The offences contravened Sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him and begged for leniency.
Following the guilty plea, his counsel, Mr T. H. Okesola, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy on his client.
Okesola pleaded with the court that the convict is a man of many dependants, and if sentenced to prison, his dependants will suffer a lot, praying the court for a very liberal fine.
He also urged the court to give the convict community sentence of sweeping the court premises.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Charity Adeyanju, however, sentenced the convict to seven years imprisonment with an option of N800, 000 fine.
Also, a 35-year-old motorcyclist, Samuel Peter, on Thursday appeared before an Akure Magistrate Court over allegation of phone theft.
Peter was arraigned by the police on a count of stealing.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simon Wada, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in August 2023, at about 11pm at Shasha market, along Owo Road, in Akure.
Wada told the court that Peter stole one Infinix Hot 9 phone valued at N75,000, belonging to one Mr Usman.
The offence contravenes Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.
His counsel, C.T. Fagbohun, urged the court to grant his client bail in most liberal terms.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, admitted the defendant to N300,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Sekoni adjourned the case till November 24, 2023, for a hearing.
