Man Jailed For Stealing N40,000 Phone, Disturbing Public Peace

A 26-year-old man identified as Arowolo Friday has been sentenced to three years imprisonment by a Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State for stealing a mobile phone valued at N40,000.

Arowolo was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of the crime and pleading guilty to three counts that had some bordering on theft and disturbing public peace.

James Usifo, the prosecutor, told the court that the defendant took an Itel phone worth around N40,000 that belonged to Mrs. Joy Oladokun at a guest house, Akinjagunla, Ore in the Ore Magisterial District and converted it to his own use.

Usifo further claimed that the defendant engaged in behaviour that was likely to lead to a breach of the peace on the same day, time, and location by snatching the phone without the owner’s permission and using her MTN SIM card to make calls and receive messages.

Sections 390 (9), and 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006, were violated by the offences.

Usifo while admitting the defendant’s statement of guilt, said the case needed not be proved

When the charge was read to the defendant, who was unrepresented by counsel, he entered a plea of guilty.

In his ruling, Magistrate O. Ogunfuyi sentenced the defendant to one year in prison on each count, with the possibility of punishment of N25,000 per count.