Vigilante Jailed For Stealing Wines

By Abdullahi Omotayo

A 28-year-old security guard, Emmanuel Ajayi was on Monday sentenced to six months imprisonment in Ilesa prison custody by an Osogbo Magistrates Court over alleged theft of N3,800 worth of wine.

Ajayi who was convicted after being found guilty of a two-count charge admitted that he stole the drinks for the one-year remembrance of his late mother.

According to the charge sheet, the convict, on the 13th January, 2018 beside Landers Filling station Osogbo broke and entered into the shop of one Adebambo with intent to commit felony therein and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Vol, II Laws of Osun State, Nigeria 2003.

The charge sheet also stated that he stole different types of wine, valued N3,800, properties of one Adebambo and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State, Nigeria 2003.

The stolen drinks include six Brandy Wines and seven Konfirm Bitters.

Ajayi who was employed by Ya-Sallam Group, a Vigilante group, was deployed to work at the shopping complex where he committed the offence.

He was reported by the police to have been arrested while on his way home at about 06:00am on the said day after his night duty.

The convict pleaded guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him.

Counsel to the convict, Mr Kunle Ayenoyin, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict.

The Presiding Magistrate then ordered the imprisonment of the convict for six months due to the magnitude of the offence committed, with an option of #10,000 fine.