An Iwo Road Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday sentenced one Akeem Yusuf ,23, to three years’ imprisonment for damaging and stealing cables worth N9, 000, 000 from an uncompleted hotel building.
The defendant had pleaded guilty to charges of stealing and malicious damage.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Oladiran, found the convict guilty as charged, based on his plea and the facts of the case.
Oladiran sentenced Yusuf to three years’ imprisonment at the Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan.
“The convict is to serve with hard labour. This will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yusuf, a resident of Mokola, Ibadan, was charged alongside one Donatus Obi, 74, who allegedly received the stolen cables.
The Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi, had told the court that Yusuf on March 27, at 7 a.m., entered the Option 24/7 uncompleted hotel building and stole electricity cables worth N9 million.
“ Yusuf maliciously damaged the electricity cables installed inside conduit by unlawfully pulling out the wires and removing copper-wires from it.
“Obi, a scrap buyer, allegedly received the copper-wires from Yusuf, ” he said.
Three sacks of cable were tendered as exhibits before the court
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 451 (a) 427 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
Obi, who pleaded not guilty, was granted bail by the court in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate adjourned the case until Dec. 18, for hearing. (NAN)
