Ogun man bags two years imprisonment for stealing from church, mosque

Abeokuta Court Sentences Man to Two Years for Theft from Religious Institutions

Abeokuta, Nigeria – A 22-year-old man, Atofeyinti Gafar, has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the theft of valuable items totaling over 1.7 million Naira from a church and a mosque.

The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Miss O.T. Odubanjo at a local Magistrates’ Court in Isabo on Tuesday. Gafar, who lacks a fixed address, faced charges of conspiracy, burglary, and stealing.

During the proceedings, Chief Inspector Opeyemi Lawal outlined how Gafar committed his crimes on two occasions, once in May and again on October 30 at approximately 6:00 a.m., in the Itoko area of Abeokuta.

Lawal reported that Gafar gained unauthorized access to the premises of the C & S Orisun Ibukun Goshen Church, where he stole an amplifier engine valued at 350,000 Naira, a 6 by 6 foam mattress worth 250,000 Naira, and two speakers priced at 200,000 Naira. Other stolen items included a stove and cooking utensils valued at 170,000 Naira, two bells worth 40,000 Naira, and various wires totaling 50,000 Naira.

In addition to the church theft, Gafar was found to have broken into the Allahu Rahamon Islamic Society on October 18, stealing an amplifier engine worth 450,000 Naira and four speakers valued at 250,000 Naira.

Lawal stated that the total value of all stolen items amounted to 1.7 million Naira. Gafar was apprehended by vigilante officers, leading to his arrest.

The charges brought against him contravened Sections 390(9) and 412 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State, 2006. Following his guilty plea, Odubanjo sentenced Gafar to two years’ imprisonment for each charge of conspiracy and stealing, with the terms to run concurrently, and without the option of a fine.

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