Court sentences unemployed man to 5 years in prison for stealing Nokia phone, cash

A state High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Friday sentenced an unemployed man, Sunday Ayodeji, to five years in prison for robbery.

Trial judge, Justice Cornelius Adetayo, while delivering judgment, held that the prosecution has proved its case beyond the reasonable doubt.

Adetayo held that the court has also listened to plea of the defence counsel, Mr Idowu Adelusi, and substituted his charge to robbery instead of armed robbery.

Justice Adetayo, therefore, found the defendant guilty of the offence of robbery.

He held that the punishment would serve as a deterrent to others in such habit of robbery and stealing.

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The state Counsel, Mr Temitope Kolawole, who called three witnesses, to prove his case before the court, said that Ayodeji, 22, on Feb. 3, 2016, armed with dangerous weapons such as gun and knife, at Laja area, Otun-Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area, robbed one Adunni Owolabi of a Nokia phone and N22,000.

Earlier, Adelusi urged the court to temper mercy with the justice, adding that he was a first offender and has learnt his lessons.