Man jailed for stealing in Ekiti court

Balogun Mujaid, a 25-year-old man, has been sentenced by a Chief Magistrate Court in Ekiti to a combined jail term of seven and a half years for stealing and other offences.

The convict was sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing an Itel A50 phone valued at N98,000 while on community service in the court.

Dolamu Babalogbon, the Chief Magistrate, also ordered the convict to pay N130,000, as a restitution fee to the dominant complainant.

Mujaid was also sentenced on two other cases for three years with labour with an option of a fine of N20,000 on count 1 and three months with the option of a fine of N10,000, on count 2.

In another matter, Mujaid, who had pleaded guilty to all the charges preferred against him, was sentenced to one year and three months imprisonment without an option of a fine on two other counts.

While giving his ruling, Dolamu Babalogbon, the Chief Magistrate, said, “All terms are to run concurrently.”

Inspector Sodiq Adeniyi, while prosecuting the case earlier, told the court that “Mujaid on October 15, 2024, at about 8.30a.m at the open court of the Chief Magistrate 6, Ado Ekiti while serving community service, did steal the Itel A50 phone, property of one Mrs Olusola Oluwatuyi.”

In another case, with charge No: MAD/111c/25, the prosecutor said, “The defendant stole one standing fan valued at N25,000, a home theatre valued at N45,000, totalling N70,000, properties of Falola Sunday, on January 24, 2025, at Oke-Ila, in Ado-Ekiti.”

Inspector Adeniji said, “The offence committed is punishable under Section 302(1)(a)(b) and Section (4)(e), 181(1)(d) Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2021.”