Ogun Court Sentences 22-Year-Old Man to Two Years in Prison for Stealing N1.7m From Church, Mosque

An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court sitting in Isabo, Ogun State, has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Atofeyinti Gafar, to two years’ imprisonment for stealing valuables worth over N1.7 million from a church and a mosque.

Gafar, who has no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Opeyemi Lawal, told the court that the offences were committed in May and October at the Itoko area of Abeokuta.

Lawal said the defendant unlawfully entered the premises of C & S Orisun Ibukun Goshen Church with the intention of stealing.

Items reportedly stolen from the church included an amplifier engine valued at N350,000, a 6-by-6 foam worth N250,000 and two speakers valued at N200,000.

Other stolen items included a stove and cooking utensils worth N170,000, two bells valued at N40,000 and some quantities of wire worth N50,000.

The prosecutor further told the court that on October 18, the defendant allegedly broke into the premises of Allahu Rahamon Islamic Society, where he stole an amplifier engine valued at N450,000 and four speakers worth N250,000.

According to Lawal, the total value of the stolen items from both religious centres was estimated at N1.7 million.

He said Gafar was apprehended by vigilante officers, leading to his arrest and subsequent prosecution.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 412 of the Criminal Code, Volume 1, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo convicted Gafar following his guilty plea.

The magistrate subsequently sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and stealing, with no option of a fine on each count.

Odubanjo, however, ordered that the sentences run concurrently.