Young Barber Jailed for 14 Years in Ondo State for Stealing Offense

One Joseph Babatunde has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for breaking into buildings and stealing valuable items in Ondo State.

Babatunde, a 20-year-old barber, was convicted and sentenced by an Ondo State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure.

He was arrested and arraigned before the court on four counts bordering on burglary and stealing after a series of criminal act.

Babatunde was arrested by the men of the state police command after he reportedly broke into a store and stole a Toyota Hilux jeep engine valued at N1m.

He also broke into a shop and stole 18 plastic chairs valued at N87,000, last week, at Araromi Street, Ijoka area of Akure.

According to the prosecution, the offence committed contravened Sections 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2016. Babatunde pleaded guilty to the four counts.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs C.M. Omole, held that the prosecution’s uncontradicted evidence corroborated the defendant’s admission of the crime.

She found Babatunde guilty of all the counts he was charged with and consequently sentenced him accordingly.

She sentenced the convict to four years in jail with hard labour each on counts one, two, and three, and two years in jail for count four with an option of N180,000 fine.

The magistrate however ruled that the jail term of a total of 14 years should run concurrently.