The Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Wednesday sentenced a farm attendant, Adedotun Gbolagade, to one year’s imprisonment for stealing animals.

Mr Gbolagade was arraigned before the court on two counts of  conspiracy and theft.

Delivering judgement, the magistrate Gladys Olanrewaju found him guilty on count one (conspiracy) and count two (theft).

On count one, the magistrate sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment.

On count two (stealing), which carries a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine, she sentenced him to one year’s imprisonment.

The magistrate ordered that both sentences should run concurrently.

Ms Olanrewaju also gave the convict an alternative to restitute and pay N1.5 million to the complainant in lieu of the term of imprisonment.

The magistrate said she was lenient after considering the convict’s plea to temper justice with mercy.

The prosecution counsel, Samuel Owolabi, said Mr Gbolagade committed the offence at about 7:00 p.m. at a poultry farm at Agbirigidi, Moniya area of Ibadan.

Mr Owolabi said the convict and others at large conspired to steal turkeys, chickens, and rams worth N3.1 million belonging to the farm owner and complainant, Arimiyu Akintola.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Mr Gbolagade pleaded not guilty to the charge.

(NAN)