Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
An Osi Magistrate Court, in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has sentenced the Ajagun Ode of Ode community, Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye, to 10 years imprisonment for unlawfully destroying church fence, palm trees and food crops.
The trial Magistrate, Mrs Bukola Ojo, sentenced the convict to 10 years after founding him guilty of the charges leveled against him.
Oba Boboye was earlier charged with six-count of Felony to wit malicious damage.
The Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Ajiboye Babatunde, said the convict, and others on the run, committed the crime on September 20.
Babatunde said at about 3:00 pm at the ‘Pastorate and laity of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, along Ado Ekiti Road Igoba, Akure North, the monarch conspired to commit Felony to wit: malicious damage.
He alleged that the monarch unlawfully pulled down the perimeter fence of the pastorate and laity of the Church, valued at about one million naira, demolished the palm trees and food crops valued at about five million, and demolished the signpost of the church.
The prosecutor said that “the offence contravened sections 516, 451, 249(d), and 81 of the Criminal Code Cap 7 vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.”
The Prosecutor added that the convict, when arrested, could not give a convincing account to the police.
The Police Prosecutor called four witnesses to testify in court and asked the court to punish him accordingly so as to serve as a deterrent to others who might indulge in a similar act.
But, the convict, through his defence counsel, Adeola Kayode, denied the allegations levelled against him.
He pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
Delivering judgement, Magistrate Ojo, convicted and sentenced the accused to prison for a period of two years in count one with an option of a fine of N20,000.
Magistrate Ojo said that “On count two and three, the defendant is sentenced to two years imprisonment each with no option of fine and another one-year jail term with an option of fine of N10,000.
”On count five, the defendant is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of two years with no option of fine while on count six, the defendant is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of one year with an option of fine of N20,000.”
The court thereafter awarded the sum of N5 million naira as compensation to the complainant for the damage of the perimeter fence, palm trees and other crops.
Magistrate Ojo, however, noted that “if the convict pays the compensation, the imprisonment would be ‘vacated.
Ojo said that the imprisonment was to run side-by-side.