Ado Ekiti Division of the Ekiti State High Court has sentenced Omodara Dada, age 26, to seven years in jail for burglary. In 2022, Dada was accused of stealing a phone worth ₦64,000 and ₦8,000 in cash from the owner while brandishing a knife.
He was charged with armed robbery on a single count, in violation of section 312(2) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2011, and arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on July 19, 2022.
On February 13, 2022, in Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, the convict allegedly stole a black Infinix Hot 8 phone worth ₦64,000 and ₦8,000 in cash from a man named Fakiyesi Tope.
He had a knife with him when the heist occurred.”I am a hotel manager,” the victim told the police in his statement. I was asleep in my hotel room on that fateful day. A noise startled me awake, and I noticed the defendant attempting to take away my plasma TV. I tried to yell, but he brandished a knife and said if I did, he would stab me.
Later, I found out that he had stolen my phone and ₦8,000 in cash that I had left on the table. When he attempted to flee, I grabbed him by the back and yelled for assistance.
With the help of others, he was overcome, captured, and turned over to the authorities,” he said.
Albert Adeyemi, the prosecution, brought three witnesses and produced a knife, the ₦8,000 cash, and statements from the defendant and victim as evidence.
Through his attorney, the defendant, who did not summon any witnesses, argued his case and begged the court to balance justice with mercy.
The evidence presented at the hearing in support of the greater offence is insufficient to sustain the charge of armed robbery, but establishes beyond reasonable doubt the lesser offence, Justice Ogunmoye stated in his ruling.
According to section 323 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, the defendant is found guilty of burglary.
The judge handed down the sentence: “He is sentenced to seven years in prison, to commence from the date of his detention at the Federal Correctional Facility, Ado Ekiti.
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