39-Year-Old Man Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For Stealing iPad, Laptop In Ekiti State

An Ado Ekiti High Court, on Monday, sentenced a 39-year-old man identified as Femi Romiluyi to eight years’ imprisonment for burglary and stealing.

Romiluyi was convicted of stealing an iPad and MTN recharge cards valued at N30,000 on one occasion, and HP laptops and the sum of N20,000, on another occasion.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Abon Akinola, from the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, told the court that Romiluyi committed the offences on January 11, 2016.

While armed with offensive weapons that included a gun, a knife and a cutlass, Romiluyi robbed one Adeniran Ojumu of his Ipad and MTN recharge cards valued at N30,000.

Again, on January 12, 2016 at Textile Area, the convict also robbed one Pastor Sunday Ariyo of his HP Laptops and a sum of N20,000 while armed with offensive weapons.

Abon Akinola said that the offences contravened Section 402(2) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C 16, Vol. 1, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

The prosecution called five witnesses and tendered exhibits including pictures, statements of the convict and the victims.

Defence Counsel, Mr Lawrence Fasanmi, who called only a witness, pleaded for leniency, praying that the court should tamper justice with mercy with his client as he was a first offender and still in his prime age, saying he could still be useful for the society.

After listening to both prosecution and defence counsels, the judge, Justice Bamidele Omotosho, however said: “the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and established the case of burglary.”

Omotosho told Romiluyi, “The Court found you guilty as charged on count three and four for the offence of burglary and stealing, but based on the plea of the defence counsel, describing you as a first offender, you are hereby sentenced to eight years in jail.”

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