18th February, 2024
By Paul Iyoghojie
An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court sitting at the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Island, Lagos has sentenced a 23-year-old notorious thief, Michael Odu, to four years and six months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing side mirrors valued at N1,540,000 from ten vandalized cars belonging to Centre Heights property and Mr. Emeka Okonwko located at Ibrahim Waziri Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The convict was jailed by Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A. T. Omoyele after he pleaded guilty to the three count charges of stealing preferred against him by the police at the Bar Beach division, Victoria Island, Lagos and the facts of the matter presented before the court by the police prosecutor, Inspector Koti Aodohemba.
Police said that the journey to jail started for the convict on 9 February 2024 when he scaled the fence to gain access into the compound of the two complainants, Centre Heights property and Mr Emeka Okonkwo located at Ibrahim Waziri Street, Victoria Island, Lagos at about 2.30 am to vandalize ten cars parked in the compound.
Police further said that nemesis, however, caught up with the convict when he was caught by the vigilant security men on duty as he made to flee with the stolen properties.
Police said that the security men sent distress calls to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Barbeach Division, Victoria Island, Lagos who swiftly dispatched her men to the scene to arrest the convict.
After an investigation by Inspector Patience Onyeche and her team, the convict from Cross River State was charged to court for stealing, punishable under Sections 308 (2) and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Magistrate Omoyele sentenced the convict to four years and six years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine.