A Magistrate’s court in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has sentenced a 38-year-old bricklayer, Olushola Olatunde, to 21 years imprisonment for breaking into a church and stealing items, including an iron vault containing N1,340,900 collected as tithes in the church.
Olatunde was dragged before the court on a six-count charge involving breaking, illegal entry, and theft.
He, however, pleaded guilty to the charges.
In his ruling, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni convicted and sentenced Olatunde to 21 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Delivering the verdict, Sekoni 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.”
According to the Magistrate, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning Olatunde will serve four years in custody.
Earlier, 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-Shagbaon said,” 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.
Olatunde, who admitted to selling the stolen items, pleaded for leniency.
However, Magistrate Sekoni handed down the sentence, emphasising that it would deter others.
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