Ekiti News reports that a 22-year-old man named Dipo Femi has been sentenced to 27 years imprisonment for charges including conspiracy, burglary, and theft by Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti.
He was brought before Justice Blessing Ajileye on July 19, 2022, facing a five-count charge related to conspiracy, burglary, and theft, which are in violation of sections 421, 324, and 302 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.
The sentences, to be served concurrently from the day of arrest, consist of seven years for each of three charges (totaling 21 years) and three years for each of two charges (totaling six years).
According to the charge, Femi and other individuals, who are currently at large, conspired and unlawfully broke into the shops of Victor Mark, Clement Moses, and Samuel Lucky at Oke Ureje, Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, on March 14, 2022, at 5:30 a.m., within the jurisdiction of the court. They were accused of stealing various items during the incident.
The stolen items included men’s and ladies’ clothing, jewelry, footwear, a cash sum of N200,000.00, perfumes, body spray, caps, and other valuables, altogether valued at N2.1 million.
According to a statement given to the police by one of the victims, they received a call while on their way to church, informing them that their shop had been burgled. Upon arrival at the scene, they found the thief in possession of some of the stolen goods. The thief admitted to being part of a group of four individuals, with three others having fled the scene with the stolen items.
Subsequently, they contacted the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigerian Police Force and handed the thief over to them.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements.
In his judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye said, “I will not hesitate to hold that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the basic elements of stealing against the defendant and I so hold.
“In counts 1, 2 and 4 (conspiracy and burglary) the defendant is convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment each and in counts 3 and 5, the defendant is sentenced to 3 years imprisonment each. Time of the imprisonment are to run concurrently from the date of arrest.”