Man bags two-year jail for stealing church, mosque equipment in Ogun

An Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Atofeyinti Gafar, to two years’ imprisonment for stealing valuables worth about N1.7 million from a church and a mosque in Ogun State.

Gafar was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Opeyemi Lawal, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in May and on October 18 at about 6:00 a.m. in the Itoko area of Abeokuta.

Lawal alleged that Gafar broke into the premises of C&S Orisun Ibukun Goshen Church and stole an amplifier engine valued at N350,000, a 6×6 foam worth N250,000 and two speakers valued at N200,000.

The prosecutor further told the court that on October 18, the defendant allegedly broke into the premises of Allahu Rahamon Islamic Society, where he stole an amplifier engine valued at N450,000 and four speakers worth N250,000.

Lawal said the defendant was apprehended by vigilante officers and subsequently handed over to the police.

He said the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 412 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

Delivering her judgment, Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo convicted Gafar after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

She sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and stealing, with no option of a fine on each count. She, however, ordered that the sentences run concurrently.