Judiciary

AN Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 30-year-old man, Abiodun Kolawole to four years imprisonment for stealing phones from a hospital.

Kolawole, who resides at Oko-Ijeun area in Abeokuta, had pleaded not guilty to the eight count charge, including burglary and stealing.

However, the Chief Magistrate I.O Abudu held that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the offence.

Abudu also noted that the convict was not a first time offender but a habitual offender.

She, thereafter, sentenced Kolawole to four years imprisonment without option of fine and ordered that he serves his jail term at Oba Correctional Centre.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the convict committed the offence on March 10,  at Daverose  Hospital, Olomore area in Abeokuta.

Olu-Balogun said the convict conspired with others at midnight and entered into Daverose Hospital and stole six different brands of phones, belonging to the staff and patients.

He said that the convict entered the hospital by unlocking the gate and doors to steal.

He said that Kolawole stole a Techno POP 2 handset, valued N40,000, property of Mrs Rofiat Lateef and one Infinix Smart 5 Phone valued 63,500, belonging to one Suliat Fadina.

“He stole another Techno phone valued N62, 000, belonging to one Deborah Abiose and an I-Phone valued N254, 000, property of Tobi Iriowen.

“Also kolawole, carted away with one Itel P37 Phone, valued N80, 000, property of one Sofiat Agboola, and a Gionee 12 Lite Phone, valued N75, 000, belonging to Mr Victor Odiegba, all totaling N574, 500.”

Olu-Balogun, said the convict was arrested through phone tracking and one of his friends he sold some of the phones to.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections  516, 413 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.(NAN)

Tags: I.O Abudu