3 jailed 9 years for stealing

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the  three convicts had pleaded guilty to  conspiracy, shop breaking and stealing while pleading   for leniency.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Omotosho,  in her ruling,  sentenced the trio to nine years imprisonment at Agodi Federal Prison.

”  I found out that it was a well thought- out and planned operation and according to them,  they succeeded in their plan.

” The three defendants are young able – bodied men  who should be contributing to the development of the nation, not breaking into shops,’’ Omotosho said.

She sentenced the trio  to 18 months imprisonment on the  first count of conspiracy, three  years imprisonment on second count of breaking into shop  and 18  months for   stealing.

Omotosho also said the convicts should serve the terms with hard labour, all  running concurrently.

The case of the  fourth defendant,  Ige Afeez, 20,  charged alongside the convicts  and who pleaded not guilty,  was  adjourned till Feb. 20 for hearing.

The  Prosecutor, Insp Samad Aliu, had told the court that  the trio were  arraigned on a seven- count charge  of conspiracy, breaking into shop  and stealing.

Aliu said the convicts committed the offence on Jan. 30  at about 1.am at Farajimi street, Agodi-Gate area of  Ibadan.

He said the convicts broke into three shops at Farajimi area and stole rice, beverages, wine and vegetable oil totalling  N167,000.

The prosecutor said the offences  contravened Sections  390 (9), 413 and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol . II, Laws of Oyo State,  2000. (NAN)