Guard bags 30 months imprisonment over N.42m theft

An Okitipupa Magistrates’  Court in Ondo State on Tuesday sentenced a 45-year-old security guard, Mohammed Hamza, to 30 months  imprisonment for stealing foodstuff  and other items  worth N420,000.

The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, who jailed the convict  without an option of fine, said that the sentence would serve as a  deterrent to others.

The accused, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of burglary, felony and stealing.

He pleaded for leniency, saying that hunger pushed him to the crime.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp  Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused, who was a security guard at St. Williams Catholic Primary School, Okitipupa, on Oct. 5  at 5:00am broke into the school’s store.

Orogbemi said the accused stole bags of rice,  salt as well as   textbooks, students towels, clothes  and other items  totalling N420,000, all property of  the school.

The prosecutor said that the offences were punishable under Sections 360, 413 and 390(9) of the  Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.