30-yr old man bags 2 years imprisonment over burglary
By Abolaji Adebayo
A 30-year old man identified as Fatai Oluwshina has been sentenced to two years imprisonment having been found guilty of burglary and theft of two sophisticated techno phones valued at N72,000 belonging to one Mr. Ralph Imoekor.
Having pleaded guilty to the two-count charges; criminal offences which are punishable under sections 307 and 287 of Lagos state Criminal Law 2015, the defendant was sentenced to two years imprisonment without option of fine.
It was learned that the defendant, at exactly 03:10 am on April 10, 2018, having melted the wooden-framed net to open the door from behind, gained entrance into the apartment of Mr. Ralph Imoekor at 27, Omotashe compound, Itire, and cleared one Tecno M7 and R7 valued at N27,000 and N45,000 respectively which were on the table.
He, however, moved to the bedroom, ransacked the wardrobe but, unfortunately the lightning of the lighter caught the eyes of the complainant who pounced on Fatai and held him down before his neighbours subsequently intervened.
The prosecutor, Oje Uagbale, recounted that Fatai gained entrance into the apartment after he had used a lighter to burn the net and open the door.
According to him, the accused succeeded in packing the two Tecno Phones on the table in the sitting room and went further to the bedroom to steal more items. However, luck ran against him while ransacking the wardrobe as the owner who was sleeping caught him through his flashlight. He pounced on him and held him down before he handed him over to the police who came in time.
The phones and other stolen exhibits with a lighter which were recovered from the defendant made the magistrate, Hon. E. Telumo be lenient as she constitutionally sentenced him two years behind bar without fine. The jail term takes effect from 5th of May, 2018 when the judgment was delivered.
