By Richard Benjamin
An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan has sentenced a farm attendant, Adedotun Gbolagade, to one year’s imprisonment for conspiring to steal animals worth N3.1 million.
Magistrate Gladys Olanrewaju delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding Gbolagade guilty on two counts: conspiracy and theft. The offences occurred on 5 April 2024 at a poultry farm in Agbirigidi village, Moniya area of Ibadan.
On the count of conspiracy, the magistrate sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment. On the theft charge, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years without the option of a fine, she imposed a one-year term.
She ordered that both sentences should run consecutively. However, the magistrate offered Gbolagade an alternative: he could make restitution and pay N1.5 million to the complainant, Mr Arimiyu Akintola, in lieu of serving the prison term.
Olanrewaju explained that she exercised leniency after considering the convict’s plea for mercy. Gbolagade was arraigned on 17 May 2024 and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution, led by Insp Samuel Owolabi, told the court that Gbolagade and others still at large conspired and stole turkeys, chickens and a ram belonging to Mr Akintola on the evening of 5 April 2024.
The offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
