24th October, 2013
An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a dismissed Mobile policeman (MOPOL), Omopariola Muritala, 42, to 30 months in prison for unlawfully deserting the force and unlawfully collecting salary.
The convict, who had earlier been found guilty by the police disciplinary committee and dismissed in accordance with the laws of the Police Force, pleaded guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Inspector John Idoko, told the committee during the summary trial that the convict was a police officer attached to Police Mobile Force (PMF) 39, Nigeria Police, Osogbo.
According to Idoko, the convict deserted his unit by secretly dropping his police kit and leaving without lawful excuse in December 2012.
“The convict later went ahead to make withdrawals between 2012 and May 2013 to the tune of N230,000 from his police account through the use of his ATM card.
“He (Muritala) was, however, apprehended on July 27, tried, convicted and dismissed by the police disciplinary committee,” he said
Idoko said the convict was charged with desertion and stealing from the force under Section 37(1)(f) of the Police Act, Cap P 19 Laws of Nigeria 2004 and Section 390(9) of Law of Osun 2003.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adebayo Lasisi, convicted the accused and sentenced him to six months imprisonment for the offence of desertion, and two years for collecting salary after deserting the force.
He, however, gave him an option to pay N15,000 fine for both terms.