A 22-year-old awaiting trial inmate, Ojo Adewale, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a mobile phone belonging to one of the warders of the Ilesa Medium Correctional Centre in Osun State.
Adewale, who is standing trial for a case of theft before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court had been remanded in the correctional facility after he was not able to meet his bail conditions.
He was earlier arraigned in court by the police in the state for allegedly stealing some work tools at a mechanic shop in Osogbo while acting as a scavenger.
However, after spending about six months in the correctional facility awaiting trial over the case of stealing, Adewale was brought to court last week to continue his trial but he incurred the wrath of the court by stealing a phone of one of the warders that brought him to court.
The Point gathered that the warder who identified himself as Olaniyi Joel had plugged his mobile phone inside the courtroom for it to charge a few minutes after he arrived at the court premises.
Adewale, who was sitting close to the phone, took the phone and hid it inside the black cardigan he was wearing while the court was in session.
When his case was mentioned, the warder approached the inmate and attempted to lead him to the dock before he discovered that his phone was missing. The development brought confusion to the court as the warder took the permission of the court to search Adewale and one other female suspect after they both denied seeing the phone.
After Joel searched Adewale, he couldn’t find the phone. His colleague, Olootu Ayodeji returned to Adewale and re-searched him before discovering where he hid the phone close to his belly.
The presiding Magistrate A. O. Odeleye expressed displeasure at the scenario, wondering how an inmate who is still standing trial before her would summon the effrontery to commit another offence right in front of her.
Immediately, the police prosecutor of the subsisting trial, Sergeant Adesuyi Adejola prepared a charge against Adewale and he was arraigned for stealing the prison official’s phone on October 10, 2024 at about 12:50pm inside the Magistrate Court in Osogbo.
Adejola said the offence is contrary and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal; Code Cap 34 Vol, II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the one count charge leveled against him and pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, claiming that the devil caused him to steal the phone.
After listening to the presentation of facts by the prosecution, Magistrate Odeleye found the defendant guilty and convicted him.
She said she had promised to strike out the former case if Adewale was of good behaviour since the prosecution was not showing interest in prosecuting it but with the latest act of Adewale, the Magistrate noted that the convict has “depraved mind and is very corrupt.”
She sentenced her to five years imprisonment with hard labour.
