An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday, sentenced a teenager, Muyideen Nasiru, to 39 months imprisonment for stealing aluminium frames and other items worth N500,000 from a church.
The magistrate, Mrs. O.K. Omotosho, sentenced Nasiru after he pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, break-in and stealing.
Omotosho said the convict should spend his prison term at Agodi Prisons, Ibadan.
“The young boy is a thief, no doubt. He has a godfather, who buys the stolen things from him.
“The society will be better for it if he is incarcerated; he may learn a thing or two in prison.
“He is hereby sentenced to three months imprisonment on count key one, 18 months on count two and 18 months on count three,’’ she said.
Omotosho, however, held that the sentence should run concurrently.
The police prosecutor, Sgt. Olalekan Adegbite, had told the court that the accused committed the offences with some others still at large at Christ’s Ambassador Church, Inalende, Ibadan.
Adegbite said the accused stole four church bells, a drum set, window frames and four gas lamps.
He said the stolen property belonged to the complainant, Rev. Faith Ikumapayi, the founder of the church.
The offences contravened Sections 390 (9), 415’and 516 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2,000 and punishable under same.
