Ayodele Popoola

|

An Akure Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a middle-aged serial burglar, Ayodeji Oyetola to 38 years in prison for burglary and stealing.

The  Magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, gave the ruling after Oyetola pleaded guilty to a 12-count charge of burglary and stealing brought against him by the Men of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps.

Oyetola was convicted and sentenced to a total of 38 years imprisonment without the option of fine.

Sekoni held that, “In counts 1, 5, 7 and 11 (burglary) the defendant is convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment each and in counts 2,4,6,9 and 10 (stealing) the defendant is sentenced to 3 years imprisonment each, while in counts 8 and 12 the convict is sentenced to one and two-year imprisonments respectively with on option of fine.”

He ruled that the jail term would run concurrently from the date of arrest.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, D.S. Msonter-Shagba had told the court that the convict committed the offence at different times between October 3 and November 17, 2022 at different places in  Akure South Local Government area.

 Msonter-Shagba said that Oyetola at about 1pm on November 13, 2023 in the Olufoam area, unlawfully broke into the house of one Mary Olawumi through the ceiling and stole one pumping machine, one sewing machine, a cosmetic kit, a pair of gold wedding rings and other items valued at N370,000.

According to her, the convict  also on November 11, 2023 at about 6:45pm at Ilesanmi Layout Jegele Village off Ado Road, Akure carted away a handbag containing the sum of N30,000 and a Techno phone valued at N85,000 belonging to Adijat Folorunsho.

“On November 10, 2022 at 10:am at Block C Plot 2 Iegele the convict broke into the house of one Bamidele Akeredolu and stole a laptop valued at N75,000, four vehicle absorbers N170,000, baby milk, and other items all valued at N350,000.

” At the back of CMCM Church at Jegele Village off, Ado Road, Oyetola also broke into the house of a woman, Folashade Olasunkanmi and stole valuables valued at N100,000

Similarly,  on October 25, 2022, at Igoba Second Gate, Off Ado Road Akure, he broke into the shop of one Oluwatosin Okereke and stole a handbag containing a cash sim of N140,000, phones, a power bank and other items, all valued at N300,000.

Msonter-Shagba informed the court that the Oyetola had previously been convicted of the same offence, but still refused to change.

The offences, according to the charge contravened Sections 410, 411, 412(i), and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code.

With the guilty plea of the defendant, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Oyetola, who claimed that he was into house and shop breaking when there is no vehicle for him to drive, pleaded for leniency.

The Magistrate, however, after reviewing the facts of the case convicted him on the charges and sentenced him .

 Magistrate Sekoni said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others intending to commit such a crime.