An Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Friday, sentenced a 33-year-old man, Sodiq Ajuwon, to three years in a correctional facility for stealing 1000kg of catfish valued N2.5million

Ajuwon, a resident of Oremeji area in Agugu, Ibadan, was arraigned on a two- count charge of conspiracy and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Delivering his judgment, the Chief Magistrate, B.O Ilo, held that all evidence presented by the prosecution had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convict committed the offences as charged.

Mr Ilo consequently sentenced Ajuwon to three years imprisonment, however, with an option of N70,000 fine.

The chief magistrate said that option of fine was subject to the convict’s restitution of the 1000kg of catfish to the complainant or alternatively the payment of N2.5 million, being the value of the fish

Mr Ilo further said that the refund of the value of the catfish must be paid fully before the option of fine could be effected.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the convict committed the offences on March 22 at Alako Village in Kobape area of Abeokuta.

Mr Olu-Balogun explained that the convict stole 1000kg of catfish worth N2.5million, property of one Ernest Ibe.

According to him, the defendant conspired with others now at large and entered into the fish farm of the complainant and stole the catfish.

“The defendant went with two others, pretending to be prospective buyers of catfish. After packing 1000kg of catfish worth N2.5million from the fish pond into their van, parked outside the farm, they drove off without going back to pay the complainant his money,” the prosecutor said.

Mr Olu-Balogun said that the offences committed contravened Sections 5I6, and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun 2006.

(NAN)