Truck driver jailed one year for stealing 40 tonnes of cement

An Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced a 55-year-old truck driver, Wahab Oyashiji to one year imprisonment for stealing 40 tonnes of cement.

Magistrate L. K.J. Layeni sentenced the defendant after he found him guilty of stealing.

The defendant was first arraigned in 2018 before Magistrate A.A. Adesanya, on a four- count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, wilful damage, and theft.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

Magistrate Adesanya was however, transferred to another jurisdiction of the court and a new magistrate, Mr. Layeni took over proceedings.

The prosecutor, Simon Uche, opened his case before Magistrate Layeni on November 9, 2022.

He called three witnesses including the Chief Security Officer of the nominal complainant, the Human Resource Manager and the investigating police officer.

The defendant testified in his own case.

In his ruling, the magistrate sentenced the defendant to one year in prison for conspiracy and one year for theft.

He held that the terms are to run concurrently.

He, however, gave the convict an option of N250,000 fine to be paid to the state and N500,000 to the nominal complainant as compensation.

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