55-years Old Trailer Driver Sentenced In Osun

By Abdullahi Omotayo

A convict, Surajudeen Adebayo on Tuesday was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment by an Osogbo Magistrate’s court for fraud of N53,000.

The police prosecutor, Sunday Ajayi, told the court that the convict defrauded Sarah Abosede Alabi with a pretence to buy her life cow and chicken.

The convict was said to have committed the offence on 23 October, 2017 at Olorunda Local Government Secretariat, Osun.

The prosecutor told the court that the convict committed the offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 419,390(9) of the criminal code Cap.34 vol. II, laws of Osun State Nigeria, 2003.

Sarah, the complainant, claimed that Surajudeen is one of her client that she borrowed money.

She also added that he promised to help her in purchasing live cow for her daughter’s wedding when coming back from Maiduguri where he travelled to buy his Eid-il-kabir festival ram.

Sarah also stated that the convict then willingly turned the money for his own use.

The convict who has no counsel, has already been arraigned in court on 19 December, 2017.

Meanwhile, he was previously on bail of N50,000 with one surety and was unable to perfect his bail, when he pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday 23 the adjourned date, the convict changed his mind and later pleaded guilty before the court.

He then, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and also have mercy over his innocent children, since his wife had died in a car accident recently.

The Magistrate, O.T Badmus then acceded to the request of the convict over the innocent motherless children.

He ordered that the convict be put in prison custody for 18-month due to the offence committed or pay an option of fine of N10,000.