Crime & Court

Ondo: Man sentenced to 21 years in prison for stealing tithe box

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A 38-year-old bricklayer, Olushola Olatunde, has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by a Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, for stealing tithe box containing a total amount of N1.34m.

Apart from the tithe box, Olatunde also stole a 16-channel live series audio mixer worth N250,000 and a public address system valued at N250,000 after breaking into the Revelation of God Miracle Church, Isolo, Akure.

The State Prosecutor, D.S. Msonter-Shagba, told the court that Olatunde committed the offences between December 24, 2024, and January 8, 2025, at different times and locations in Akure.

Msonter-Shagba detailed that on December 24, 2024, at No. 17 Plaza Road, Isolo, Akure, Olatunde broke into the Revelation of God Miracle Church and stole a 16-channel live series audio mixer worth N250,000 and a public address system valued at N250,000.

Similarly, on 8 December 2024, at No. 7 Ore-Ofe Street, Oke Ijebu, Akure, he broke into the Garden of Faith (CAC) Church, stealing items that included an amplifier worth N230,000, a 6.5kV generator valued at N250,000, two lengths of 12mm rods worth N19,600, and an iron tithe box valued at N35,000, totalling N534,600.

The prosecutor explained that on December 24, 2024, Olatunde stole 33 bags of cement valued at N306,900 from Shasha Market, Kilometre 12, Owo Express Road, Akure. The stolen items in total were valued at N1,340,900.

Msonter-Shagba said that the offences contravened Sections 383, 390(9), 415, and 413(2) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, and urged the court to convict the defendant.

The accused who faced six counts involving breaking, illegal entry, and theft did not, however, plead guilty to all the charges, admitting to selling the stolen items and pleading for leniency.

Sentencing Olatunde, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni in his verdict stated: “In counts one, two, three, five, and six, the defendant is sentenced to four years imprisonment each, and in count four, the convict is sentenced to one-year imprisonment.”

He said the sentences will run concurrently, meaning Olatunde will serve four years in custody.

However, Magistrate Sekoni handed down the sentence, emphasising that it would serve as a deterrent to others.

  READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

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