A man, Kolajo Damilare, has been sentenced to six-month imprisonment for stealing household items belonging to one Razaq Salaudeen in the Abeokuta area of Ogun State.
The convict was arraigned by the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Confirming this, the state Commandant of the NSCDC, David Ojelabi said the convict was arrested on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, around 11 a.m. by officers of the NSCDC located at Opeji Division while on a routine surveillance patrol of the Bode Olude area.
The defendant was said to have confessed to committing the crime, saying the household items included a refrigerator, stabiliser and security light belonging to Salaudeen after interrogation.
“It was established that Kolajo Damilare made his way into the compound of Mr Razaq Salaudeen to carry out the dastardly act. He vandalised the refrigerator and removed the evaporator, carried the stabiliser and also removed the security light and he was about leaving the compound when he was caught in the act.
“He was in the process of being mobbed when the attention of the NSCDC officers on surveillance patrol was called and he was handed over to the NSCDC for investigation and prosecution. He was then transferred to the state headquarters.
“The suspect, Kolajo Damilare, had upon a thorough investigation confessed to having committed the crime. Immediately, the state commandant, NSCDC Ogun State Command, CC David Idowu Ojelabi, gave the directive that he should be charged to court within a reasonable time,” he said.
The agency arraigned the convict before an Isabo Magistrate Court on a one-count bordering on stealing where he pleaded guilty to the count and was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N150,000 fine.
“Damilare Kolajo was then charged to Abeokuta Magistrate Court 1 on Friday, November 17, 2023, backed by a fiat by the Attorney General of Ogun State empowering the NSCDC to prosecute in the court.
“Exhibits and facts were presented before the court and the arraigned suspect pleaded guilty to the one-count charge bordering on stealing.
“He was therefore sentenced to six months imprisonment/fine of N150,000 by Magistrate E. O Idowu (Chief Magistrate),” the NSCDC boss disclosed.