10th October, 2016
A 31-year-old highway robber, Wasiu Ayinla, is to spend the next two years in a Lagos jail, an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court ruled on Monday.
Magistrate A.O. Ajibade, who handed down the verdict, said the convict should serve the prison term with hard labour.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused had earlier pleaded guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, malicious damage and stealing preferred against him.
The magistrate sentenced the robber to six months on conspiracy, one year on stealing, and another six months on malicious damage.
All the sentences are to run concurrently.
Earlier, the Prosecutor had said the accused committed the offences on Oct. 8 between 9.00 p.m. and 10.15 p.m. under Iganmu Bridge near the National Theatre Complex.
The accused had broken the window of a saloon car with registration no. GC 337 LSR before robbing the occupant of her belongings.
Items stolen included an iPad, a black cosmetic purse and a brown purse, all valued at N215,000, property of a woman, Pearse Afonughe.
“The complainant had summoned courage to scream for help and the accused was quickly rounded up and beaten to a pulp before he was handed over to the police.”
The offences contravened Sections 285, 337 (7) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.