Man sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for stealing foodstuffs in Ekiti

A High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti Division of Ekiti State has on Tuesday sentenced one Jimoh Dele to 21 years imprisonment for offences bordering on felony, breaking and stealing.

The charge sheet reads that ” the defendant, on May 11, 2020, around Mobil Petrol Station, Water Works, Ajilosun Area of Ado Ekiti, broke into a building and committed felony and “as well a shop belonging to Oluwayemisi Adeleye and carted away goods and food stuffs worth over N234,000.”

The Prosecutor, Kunle Adeyemo, said the offences were “contrary to sections 413 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012”.

Oluwayemisi Adeleye, the complainant in her statement to the police said, “My shop was burgled twice, in May, 2020 and June, 2021 during which my foodstuffs and soup ingredients such as rice, semovita, wheat and tomato paste, among others, which I was selling, were stolen”.

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While giving his testimony in the court, Sergeant Oladele Ayodeji, a Police Officer said, “The defendant on 19th November, 2021 was arrested in connection with cases of kidnapping, murder, unlawful possession of firearm, burglary and stealing.

“During interrogation, the defendant confessed to have involved and participated in criminal activities such as kidnapping, burglary and stealing, including breaking into the shop of the complainant located at Ajilosun, Water works Area of Ado Ekiti”.

Two witnesses were called by the prosecutor and the police statement of the complainant was tendered as exhibit while the defendant was represented by his counsel,Tope Salami.

While giving her judgement, Justice Olalekan Olatawura, found the defendant guilty as charged in counts 1 and 2, sentenced the defendant to 14 years on count 1 and seven years on count 2, ruling, maintaining that the sentences are to run concurrently.