By Felix Segun Ìdòwú
Ado Ekiti
An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 26 year old serial robber and ex-convict Ayelegun Femi to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine.
Ayelegun Femi was arraigned on two count charge of stealing. According to the charge, the convict sometime in year 2021 at Okuta-gbokuta-lori area of Ado Ekiti the state capital did unlawfully steal a phone valued N45, 000.00 inside a Nissan Almera Tino car with Registration KLE 71 AA, property of one Omoyajowo Olumide, on same day while committing the crime, the convict broke front door glass of the same car and stole a handbag containing a sum of N200, 000.00, a Dell laptop, valued N240, 000.00k and a phone valued N62, 000.00 property of Mrs. Fajuyige Victoria, contrary to and punishable under section 302 (6) of the Criminal Code, laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2021.
The charge was read and interpreted to the convict, he claimed to understood same, thereafter, he pleaded guilty to both charges.
The Police prosecutor, Sergeant Sodiq Adeniyi told the court how the convict was arrested through frantic efforts of the Nigerian Police, “the convict is a habitual criminal, he had imprisoned three times in the past and he urged the court to give him the punishment he deserves” Sadiq said.
In his confession before the court, the convict said, ‘’ I have stolen a lot of phones that I cannot remember and normally sold to Hausa people at Atikankan area of Ado Ekiti, I am an ex-convict, I have been to the prison three times’’ he concluded.
Barrister Kayode Oyeyemi counsel to the convict prayed court to temper justice with mercy in view of his guilty plea.
In his judgment, Magistrate Dolamu Williams, said, if the defendant is given a minimum sentence, he will still be a burden to the society and to himself.
In view of this, the defendant is sentenced to seven years imprisonment as provided for by Section 302 (1) (b) of the Criminal Code laws of Ekiti State, 2021″.