6th July, 2011
A Surulere magistrate court in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has sentenced three men to three months imprisonment each for house breaking and stealing.
The police alleged that the convicts Wale Adedoyin, 19, Musa Olorunkemi, 20, and Oyebuchi Alechi, 19, were arrested when they invaded the residence of Mrs. Toyin Adigun situated at No 10 Savage Street, Orile Iganmu, at about 8.30pm on 28 June, 2011. They were said to have scaled the wall of the house, broke the ceiling and entered the apartment to steal gold chains valued at N200,000.
A Police source informed P.M.NEWS that while the robbery was going on, some residents sent a distress call to Orile Police Station.
The DPO, it was learnt, dispatched his men to the area and the three suspects were arrested while others escaped.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime that they have been burgling residents apartments at Orile and its environs to steal their valuables for years and that they had earlier served a two-month jail term for the same offence.
They were charged before the Surulere Magistrate’s Court on a five-count chargeof burglary and stealing. The offences, according to the prosecuting police officer, Eghvudte Henry, are punishable under section 516, 413(1) (2) 390(9) and 451 of the criminal code cap 17, vol 11, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
The accused pledged guilty when the charges were read to them and the presiding Magistrate, A. Osholadoye, sentenced them to three months imprisonment each without an option of fine.
—Paul Iyoghojie