4th August, 2015
Cyriacus Izuekwe
A dismissed Army officer, Awolu Ado, arrested for burglary, stealing and impersonation, has been sentenced to two and half years imprisonment without an option of fine in Lagos State, western Nigeria.
The 35 year-old Ado was arrested and charged before Isolo Magistrates’ court where he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Plateu State-born Ado, who pleaded for leniency, confessed that he learnt the criminal act of burglary after he enlisted into the Nigerian Army in 2006.
Ado was caught at 5, Erinkitola Street, Idi-Oro, Mushin area where he broke into a fashion designer’s shop and carted away fabrics worth N10,000.
The shop belongs to Mrs Korede Leshi while the fabrics Ado stole belong to her customer, Pastor Fred Kowor of Tabernacle of Faith and Power Ministry.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Abas Abayomi, told the court that though Ado has been dismissed from the Nigerian Army, he impersonates by wearing military uniform to commit crime in the society.
He said Ado wore an Army uniform, armed with weapons, and broke the shop of the victim and carted away the fabrics.
He said luck ran out on Ado when he attempted to escape with the items as the residents caught him and handed him over to the police.
Abayomi also told the court that at the Alakara Police Station where he was taken for interrogation, he confessed to the police that he was a dismissed soldier and he wore military uniform to commit crime to feed his family.
The prosecutor told the court that though Ado pleaded guilty without wasting the time of the court, the offence he committed was serious and that he should be jailed accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to commit a similar crime.
The court found him guilty as charged.
Consequently, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko, sentenced him accordingly.