An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday sentenced one Paul Friday, 25, to three months in prison for stealing a generator.

Friday, a guard at Olonde Light City Avenue, Ologuneru area of Ibadan, was charged with conspiracy and stealing, to which he pleaded guilty.

Delivering her judgment, the Magistrate, M. Olagbenro, said the convict admitted guilt to the facts presented by the prosecutor and was found guilty on counts one and two.

Mrs Olagbenro said the convict did not qualify for an option of community service because he did not have any guarantor.

The magistrate said that Friday, rather than doing his job to protect lives and property of people in the community, was a threat to them.

She said that consideration was given to the plea of the defence Counsel, Paul Asooye, who implored that the convict should be given minimum sentence as a first offender.

Mrs Olagbenro advised the convict to use the opportunity at the prison to change, learn a vocation and become a better person thereafter.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Tellang told the court that the convict committed the offences on September 17, at about 8.00 p.m, at Olonde Avenue, Ologuneru area of Ibadan.

Tellang said that the convict and others at large conspired to steal the Thermocool Generator, worth N285, 000, belonging to a police officer, SP Opeyemi Adeniyi.

The prosecutor said Friday stole the generator in the police officer’s compound within the community he was guarding.

Mr Tellang informed the court that the convict’s alleged accomplice, who is also the receiver of the stolen generator, gave the latter only N1, 000.

He added that the convict collected the N1,000 to purchase food with his partner, who is at large and promised to return to settle him.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

(NAN)