Photo: Unrelated convicted
By Deborah Nnamdi
There was a mild drama at the Mapo Chief Magistrate Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday as a 23-year-old ex-convict, Abubakar Bello, momentarily escaped from the court while awaiting another sentencing.
The drama kicked off when the presiding magistrate, Mrs O.O. Latunji, briefly stepped out of the courtroom into her chamber to write her judgment.
It took the efforts of some police officers and a soldier (name withheld), who threatened to shoot the convict if he refused to stop before he was rearrested.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Oluseye Akinola had earlier told the court that the convict was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
Akinola said the convict and other members of his gang now at large, stole electrical cables worth N3.5 million from a filling station at Odo-Ona Kekere in Ibadan on Oct. 28.
He said it was not the first time the convict would be leading his gang to steal from the filling station.
The prosecutor said one Mayowa Balogun, the Manager of Olabanji Oil and Gas Station at Odo-Ona Kekere, reported the stealing at Mapo Police Station, after which the police swung into action.
He said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State 2000.
Upon his rearrest, the magistrate sentenced Bello to three years imprisonment on each of the two offences he was convicted for, with no option of paying a fine.
The magistrate, however, said the jail terms were to run concurrently.
Latunji said she convicted and sentenced Bello based on the overwhelming evidence tendered against him by the police as well as his confessional statement.
According to the magistrate, she took note of the fact that pleading guilty to an offence should be accorded a reduced sentence.
