Two bag three-year jail time for stealing school property

A Chief Magistrate Court in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, has sentenced two middle-aged men to three years imprisonment for stealing school properties worth N155,000.

The defendants, Emmanuel Akinde, 22, and Abdulateef Magaji, 30, were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The offence committed by the duo was said to have contravened sections 516, 413(1), and 356(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Benard Olagbayi, the crime was perpetrated at Rheo Kiddies School, Sabo Market Area, Ondo.

Olagbayi stated: “On May 21, 2023, at around 11:30 am in the Sabo market area of Ondo, in the Ondo Magisterial District, Abdulateef Magaji and Emmanuel Akinde conspired to commit the felony of entering and stealing.

“On May 22, 2023, at approximately 3 am in Adekugbe Street in Sabo, Ondo, in the same Magisterial district, Abdulateef Magaji and Emmanuel Akinde unlawfully jumped the fence of Rheo Kiddies School and committed a felony on the school premises.

“On the same date, time, and location in the aforementioned Magisterial district, they unlawfully entered the Rheo Kiddies school’s store and stole several items, including a wheelbarrow worth N20,000, an electrocardiogram machine (egg machine) worth N80,000, a head pan valued at N5,000, corner iron worth N20,000, four window nets with frames worth N20,000, as well as some quantities of electrical and mesh wire valued at N1,000.”

While pleading guilty to the charge preferred against them, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convicts according to their plea.

Chief Magistrate Charity Adeyanju subsequently convicted the defendants and thereafter sentenced them to three years imprisonment.

Magistrate Adeyanju, however, gave the defendants the option of fine of N200,000 each.