Man,20, bags four years in jail for stealing cables
Victor Akinkuolie, Ado Ekiti
An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court has sentenced one Ugar Ebenezer, to four years imprisonment for stealing electric wire cable.
The 20-year-old convict was arraigned before Magistrate Dolamu Babalogbon, on August 23, 2022, on two counts charge bordering on burglary and stealing.
He was alleged to have burgled the house of one Daramola Olubunmi, at about 11:00 a.m on August 18, 2022, at Elemi Street, Off Afao Road, Ado-Ekiti, where he stole bundles of copper wire valued N1.4million.
According to the prosecution, the offences are contrary to 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 he is a retiree and was supervising a site for his elder brother. He said he 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 residents of the community around 11:00 a.m. that somebody had entered the building and carted away all the electric wires, 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 explained.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Inspector Sadiq Adeniyi called three witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, cutting pliers, bundles of electric wires among others as exhibits.
The defendant who spoke in his own defence, was led in evidence by his lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke.
In his judgement, the Chief Magistrate, Dolamu Babalogbon said, “I have critically considered the nature and circumstances surrounding the instant case and adjudged that the prosecution has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt. I found the defendant guilty as charged.
“On count one, the defendant is sentenced to one-year imprisonment. On count two, he is sentenced to three years imprisonment, and the terms are to be served concurrently or in lieu of the terms. And the convict is to restitute the sum of N1million to the nominal complainant.”
