State High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday sentenced
one Kelvin Igbodalo (31) to 45 years imprisonment without an option of fine for stealing a Sonny Ericssion phone belonging to
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
The mobile phone, valued at N50,000, was stolen on November 27, 2010 on the day of inauguration of Aregbesola as governor at
Government Technical College, Osogbo.
Justice Oyejide Falola, the presiding judge, while giving his ruling on the suit on Monday, said the sentence will run concurrently for 10 years on the six-count charge levelled against him.
The convict was sentenced to 10 years each for the first three count, and bagged five years jail terms for each of the remaining
three counts.
The convict was said to have earlier served six years imprisonment in Ikoyi Prison custody in connection with a murder case hanging on his neck between 2005 and 2011.
Kelvin was arraigned on six-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining properties by false, stealing, impersonation and advance free fraud.
He however pleaded guilty to the charges slammed against him before the court. He was said to have used the stolen phone to
dupe unsuspecting people and friends of the governor of various sums of money before he was caught.
According to the charge sheet, Kelvin and others now at large were in May 24, 2011, impersonated the governor by using his phone with intent to defraud and obtained N500,000 from Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolara, Owa Obokun of Ijesha land.
Similarly, the convict also defrauded one Shenge Rahman of N200, 000 through the use of the phone, but met his waterloo while furthering the mischievous act.
Assistant Principal State Counsel, Biodun Badiora, the prosecution told the court that the convict committed the offence contrary to Section 8(c) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Free Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006.
Counsel to the convict, Ameachi Ngwu, urged the court to commit the convict to community service, stressing that the convict should not be incarcerated, but rather be placed where people can see him as a convict.
But Justice Falola, while delivering his judgment discounted the
convict counsel’s plead and sentenced him to 45 years
imprisonment to be run concurrently for 10 years.
