An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Dipo Femi to 27 years imprisonment for conspiracy, burglary and stealing.
The 22 year old convict was arraigned before Justice Blessing Ajileye on 19th of July, 2022 on five count charges bordering on conspiracy, burglary and other offences, contrary to Sections 421, 324 and 302 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.
According to the charge, Dipo Femi and others, now at large, on 14th of March, 2022 at 5:30 a.m., at Oke Ureje, Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, did conspire and break into the shops of Victor Mark, Clement Moses and Samuel Lucky, and the following items were stolen; Men and Ladies wears, jewelries, footwears, cash sum of N200, 000.00, perfumes, body spray, face caps among others valued at N2.150M.
In his statement to the Police, one of the victims said, “I received a call while I was going to church that my shop has been burgled but the thief was caught and arrested. When I got to the place, I saw the thief with some of the stolen goods, the thief said, we were four in number but the rest three had escaped with the stolen items.
Thereafter, we invited Rapid Response Squad of the Nigerian Police Force and handed him over to them”, he concluded.
To proof his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, bond to produce as exhibits while the defendant spoke in his own defence through his counsel Chris Omokhafe and he called no witness.
In his judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye said, “I will not hesitate to hold that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the basic elements of stealing against the defendant and I so hold.
In counts 1, 2 and 4, (Conspiracy and burglary) the defendant is convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment each and in counts 3 and 5, the defendant is sentenced to 3 years imprisonment each, time of the imprisonment are to run concurrently from the date of arrest”.
