Two farm workers have been handed prison sentences totaling 18 months after being found guilty of stealing a significant number of catfish from their employer’s property.
The Magistrates Court in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, delivered the verdict, underscoring the severity of the crime and the consequences that follow.
Adegoke Akinleye and Adediran Adewole, former employees at a farm situated in Ilewo, Abeokuta, were charged with felony and theft of catfish valued at N606,000. Justice O.O. Odumosu presided over the case, delivering the judgment on Wednesday.
The court sentenced both Akinleye and Adediran to six months of imprisonment each for the first count, and a year of imprisonment each for the second count, resulting in a cumulative 18-month prison term.
In a somewhat lenient gesture, Justice Odumosu offered an alternative to imprisonment, allowing the convicts the opportunity to pay a fine of N10,000 each for each jail term.
This option was extended on the condition that they repay the stolen amount of N606,000 to the complainant, Ibukun Sanusi.
Olakunle Shonibare, the prosecutor, provided the court with evidence detailing the offenses committed on January 24, 2023.
These actions were found to be in violation of Sections 516(1) and 382(2) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State.
“That you, Akinleye Adegoke, Adewole Adediran and others at large on January 24, 2023 at about 12noon at Abidelep Farm and Agro-Service Limited, Ilewo, Orile, Abeokuta in the magisterial district did conspire to commit felony and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 516(1) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun State.
“That you, Akinleye Adegoke, Adewole Adediran and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did steal 404 pieces of catfish valued at N606,000 property of one Mrs Sanusi Ibukun and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 382(2) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State,” the charge read in part.