13th September, 2012
For allegedly stealing N35,000 and lotto winning ticket valued at N48,000, a young man, Joseph Amuko has been sentenced to a three-month jail term by an Ikorodu Magistrates’ court.
Joseph and eight others now at large were charged to court for conspiracy bordering on felony and stealing which are contrary to section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
According to the prosecuting counsel, Inspector Fola Takugbe, “Joseph and eight other men were caught after they had systematically stolen N37,000 from Segun Adebayo but the other men escaped before they were caught. However, Joseph was arrested by men of Igbogbo Road Police Station and cautioned in English.”
P.M.NEWS scooped that it was not the first time Joseph was being convicted of theft and that he also personally said that he did not want any lawyer to plead his cause.
“He told me categorically that he did not want anyone involved in the case because he was sure that he won’t stay for long in prison. Perhaps, he’s not a stranger to Kirikiri,” alleged our source who pleaded anonymity.
Joseph, who claimed to reside in Ijebu-Ode, said that he was a ‘motor boy’ and that he’s a Christian with a good character.
He therefore pleaded with the court to pardon him but the complainant, Segun Adebayo said he mustn’t be pardoned because the stolen money was yet to be recovered.
Joseph pleaded ‘guilty’ to the two-count charge and was sentenced to two months imprisonment for the first count while the second count charge fetched him three months’ imprisonment.
The trial Magistrate, Mr. A. A. Adesanya said the jail terms will run concurrently.
—Damilare Okunola