14 hours ago
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An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Omodara Dada, to seven years in prison for burglary.
Dada was charged in court for robbing the owner of a ₦64,000 phone and ₦8,000 in cash while armed with a knife in 2022.
He was arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on 19th July 2022 on a single charge of armed robbery, contrary to section 312(2) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2011.
The charge reads: “The convict, on 13th February 2022, at Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did rob one Fakiyesi Tope of his black Infinix Hot 8 phone, valued at ₦64,000, and a cash sum of ₦8,000. At the time of the robbery, he was armed with a knife.”
The victim, in his statement to the police, said: “I am a hotel manager. On the fateful day, I was sleeping in my hotel room. I woke up suddenly when I heard a sound and saw the defendant trying to remove my plasma television. I attempted to shout, but he brought out a knife and threatened to stab me if I shouted.
“I later discovered that he had taken my phone and a cash sum of ₦8,000 that I had placed on the table. I held him from behind when he tried to escape, and I called for help. He was overpowered with the assistance of others, apprehended, and handed over to the police,” he stated.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi, called three witnesses and presented the victim’s and defendant’s statements, a knife, and the ₦8,000 cash, among other exhibits.
The defendant, who did not call any witnesses, spoke in his defence through his counsel and pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye said: “The evidence produced at the hearing in support of the greater offence is insufficient to sustain the charge of armed robbery but establishes beyond reasonable doubt the lesser offence.”
“The defendant is convicted for the offence of burglary under section 323 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State.
“He is sentenced to seven years in prison, to commence from the date of his detention at the Federal Correctional Facility, Ado Ekiti,” the judge pronounced.
