Guard jailed two years for N1m theft in Ekiti

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ado Ekiti District, has sentenced Emmanuel Odimayomi to two years’ imprisonment for burglary and stealing.

Odimayomi, a 23-year-old man, was arraigned on February 20 on two counts of burglary and theft.

During the trial, the police prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, had told the court that “the defendant committed the offence on January 20 at about 2 a.m. at Saint Paul Street, Odo Ado, Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

“The defendant was employed as a security guard at a Fan Milk company. He worked for four days, and on the fourth day, he broke into the company’s office at Odo Ado, Ado Ekiti, and stole a cash sum of N1,037,170.00.

“Having stolen the money, he travelled to Offa in Kwara State and paid for a month’s lodging in a hotel. He was later arrested by vigilantes in Offa for another crime, but thereafter, he was handed over to the police in Ekiti State.

“The offence contravened Sections 322(c) and 302(1a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021,” Adejare said.

The police prosecutor called five witnesses to prove his case, while the defence called one witness.

Delivering the judgement on Friday, Magistrate Kehinde Awosika found Odimayomi guilty on the two counts.

Awosika consequently sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.