An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court, on Friday, sentenced a 26-year-old man, Isah Mohammad, to two years imprisonment for stealing iron rods.
The convict was arraigned before Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola on August 19, 2024, on a one-count charge of stealing.
Daramola, in his judgement, said “the fact and circumstances of this case clearly pointed to the guilt of the defendant.
“I am, therefore, of the firm view that the evidence led by the prosecution in the circumstances of this case is adequate enough, since the evidence did implicated the defendant regarding the commission of the offences as charged against him.
“I, therefore, hold that the prosecution has proved the offence as charge against the defendant in the absence of any cogent and compelling defence from the defendant before this court.
“The issue for determination in this case is hereby resolved in favour of the prosecution as against the defendant.
“The defendant is hereby convicted as charged. He is accordingly sentenced to two years imprisonment with N5,000 option of fine in lieu of imprisonment.
The magistrate said his sentence dated back to the day of his incarceration.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Adeoye Adesegun had said that the defendant, a scavenger, committed the offence of stealing on July 30, 2024, in Ado-Ekiti.
He said the defendant stole iron rods valued at N200,000 meant for construction of a house belonging to one Adejibola Ademola.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 302 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.
The prosecutor said that, in his evidence before the court, the site supervisor, Mr Ezekiel Akinola, said, “the home under construction is located along new Iyin road.
However, the home had gotten to the lintel level. The iron rods were kept to complete the lintel of the house. I went to the site on August 8, 2024, and discovered the whole Iron rods had been stolen.
“The defendant and his friends had been troubling this community and also been giving us sleepless night,” he said.
To prove his case, the prosecutor called four witnesses; he tendered the defendant’s statement and the Iron rods as exhibit.
The convict, who spoke through his counsel, Mr Olarewaju Oluwasola, called no witness.
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