Thursday, October 8, 2026

Ibadan: Ex-convict jailed for stealing church bell

Delivering judgment, the magistrate, O.O. Latunji, said that the sentence is based on evidence tendered before her by the police and his guilty plea.

• December 13, 2024

The Mapo Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced an ex-convict, Kayode Sodik, 23, to a total of two years in prison over the theft of an amplifier, some cables, and a church bell.

Delivering judgment, the magistrate, O.O. Latunji, said that the sentence is based on evidence tendered before her by the police and his guilty plea.

Ms Latunji added that she considered that the convict did not waste the precious time and resources of the court before pleading guilty.

She, however, warned that the court would apply the full wrath of the law against Mr Sodik if he went back to crime after completing his jail term.

She added, “The convict is sentenced to one-year imprisonment or an option of N50,000 fine for count one and also sentenced to one year or an option of N50,000 for count two.”

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Oluseye Akinola, told the court that the convict was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering housebreaking and stealing.

Mr Akinola added that Mr Sodik committed the crime on December 11 in the Adesola area—Orita Aperin, Ibadan.

He further stated that Mr Sodik broke into the house of one Mayowa Olaide and stole an amplifier, some cables, and a church bell, all valued at N173,000, before being apprehended by neighbours, who handed him over to security personnel.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened sections 84 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 vol. ii Laws of Oyo State 2000.

Mr Sodik told the court upon interrogation that he had been previously sentenced to one month in prison for stealing an Itel phone.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Idowu Akanbi Sobowale

Heading 4

Veteran communication scholar Idowu Sobowale dies at 85

The family noted that arrangements for the deceased’s burial would be announced later.

Heading 5

FBI raids fraudsters’ hideout in Ghana, arrests suspected scammers 

Mr Patel said the raid, codenamed “Operation Blackout”, was carried out on Thursday.

Fashion Week Abuja

Abuja

Designer seeks more investment in fashion industry to create jobs‌

A designer called on government at all levels and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative sector to invest more in the fashion industry to unlock its economic gains.

Abuja

Ghana approves formal application to join BRICS

Ghana’s government has approved plans to formally apply for BRICS membership as part of a strategy to accelerate economic development.

Sokoto-Badagry super highway project

States

Gunmen storm Sokoto-Badagry project site, kill two security agents, foreign worker

The police said two civilians were also injured during the attack and were subsequently evacuated for medical attention.