Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
A 38-year-old bricklayer, Olushola Olatunde, has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by a Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for a series of burglaries involving church properties and market goods.
Olatunde’s crime spree included stealing a tithe box containing N1.34 million, among other valuable items, from the Revelation of God Miracle Church in Isolo, Akure. The stolen items included a 16-channel live series audio mixer worth N250,000 and a public address system valued at N250,000.
The State Prosecutor, D.S. Msonter-Shagba, told the court that Olatunde committed the offences between December 24, 2024, and January 8, 2025. The first break-in occurred on Christmas Eve at the Revelation of God Miracle Church, where he made away with audio equipment valued at N500,000.
On January 8, 2025, he struck again, this time targeting the Garden of Faith (CAC) Church at Oke Ijebu, Akure. Items stolen during this burglary included an amplifier worth N230,000, a 6.5kV generator valued at N250,000, and two lengths of 12mm rods worth N19,600. The iron tithe box alone was valued at N35,000.
Additionally, on the same Christmas Eve, Olatunde stole 33 bags of cement valued at N306,900 from Shasha Market, Akure. The total value of stolen items across all incidents was estimated at N1,340,900.
Olatunde faced six counts of breaking, illegal entry, and theft, all in violation of Sections 383, 390(9), 415, and 413(2) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006. Despite pleading not guilty, he admitted to selling the stolen items and pleaded for leniency.
Delivering the judgment, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni sentenced Olatunde to a total of 21 years imprisonment. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a four-year jail term. Magistrate Sekoni emphasized the need for the punishment to serve as a deterrent to others, condemning Olatunde’s repeated disregard for the sanctity of religious institutions.