An Ekiti High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Ojo Femi to four years imprisonment for burglary and stealing a motorcycle.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Familoni said the incident of burglary and stealing were now rampant in Ekiti and it must be discouraged and deterred by appropriate penal sanctions.
“ Consequently, for stealing, the Femi is sentenced to four years imprisonment without an option of fine,” the judge pronounced.
The convict was arraigned on March 3, 2023 on two-count charge of burglary and stealing.
The prosecution, Ibironke Odetola said that the convict committed the offence on Sept. 15, 2022 by breaking and entering into dwelling house of one Akeem Lasisi at midnight with intent to steal a motorcycle.
Odetola said the the convict stole a Bajaj Motorcycle marked MUE 121 QC, property of Akeem Lasisi, contrary to Sections 322 (a) &(c) and 302 (4)(g) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
Lasisi said that he was a commercial motorcyclist and aluminum fabricator.
Lasisi said he got the motorcycle on hired purchase from one Sunday Sunmola with an agreement to repay a sum of N12,000 to him weekly.
“ On that fateful day, I returned home around 7:00pm due to heavy downpour, I parked the motorcycle inside my compound and locked the neck.
“The following morning, I discovered the motorcycle had been stolen. I searched everywhere until I got to know who stole it.
“ I informed the owner, who later accompanied me to the police station to lodge formal complaint,” he said.
The prosecution called three witnesses and tendered the convict statement, motorcycle receipt, cash sum of N52,000, among others, as exhibit.
Counsel to the convict, Adeyinka Opaleke called no witness but pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy
