3 Friends To Spend Christmas and New Year In Prison For Stealing Fruits

Three men have been denied the liberty of enjoying the festivities of Christmas, after a magistrate court sentenced them to prison for stealing. They were sentenced to six months imprisonment each for stealing palm fruits and pineapples in Osun State.

The judgement was delivered by a Magistrate court in Osogbo, the state capital. The convicts are:
57-year-old Azeez Olarewaju, Sarafa Olarewaju, aged 33, and Ilutoye Olayode, aged 25.

The State police which prosecuted the men accused them of conspiracy, trespass and theft.

According to the Police Prosecutor, John Idoko, an Inspector of Police, the convicts committed the offence on August 4, 2008 at about 10:00am at Igbo via Ejigbo area in the state.

Insp. Idoko argued that the trio conspired and forced themselves into a parcel of land that was in custody of one Adeyemi Oyedemi without any justifiable reason.

During hearing yesterday, he said the convicts stole palm fruits and pineapples valued at N300,000.

The prosecutor informed the court that the theft almost led to breach of public peace around the area but for the quick intervention of the Nigeria Police.

The offence, according to the prosecution contravened Sections 516, 81, and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 vol. 11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

According to PM News, the trio pleaded not guilty.

But the presiding Magistrate, Olusola Aluko, found them guilty as charged and convicted them.

Counsel to the convicts, Babatunde Akanbi, begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Aluko sentenced the convicts to 6 months imprisonment each with an option of N10,000 fine each.