Ex-convict gets 5 years imprisonment for electrical wire theft

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan, on Thursday, sentenced an ex-convict, David Dapo, to five years in jail for theft of electrical wire.

Delivering judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Latunji stated that she convicted and sentenced Dapo based on his guilty plea and the evidence tendered against him by the prosecution.

After admitting the facts tendered against the convict, Latunji noted that there was no need for further proof since the convict admitted committing the crime.

“Therefore, Dapo is sentenced to five years imprisonment for count one, five years imprisonment for count two and two years imprisonment for count three respectively.

“However, sentencing shall run concurrently,” Latunji held.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Oluseye Akinola had told the court that the convict committed the crime on Jan. 4, at about 8.00 p.m., at Agara, Akala Expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Shedding more light on the matter, Akinola said that Dapo confessed that he jumped into the compound through the fence of the house before breaking into the two bedroom apartment which was presently unoccupied.

He added that the convict immediately started disconnecting all the electrical wires after damaging the electric metre and switches.

The prosecutor further explained that after cutting and packing the cables into sizes, Dapo was confident that he had done a perfect job and decided to sleep over in the apartment until the following day.

According to him, luck however ran out on him when the wife of the landlord arrived to inspect the flat and noticed that somebody was inside.

Akinola said that the woman called her husband, Mr Akintola Akinjide on phone concerning the incident and the latter soon arrived with the police to arrest Dapo.

The prosecutor said that Dapo was recently released on Dec. 1, 2025, after serving a seven and a half years jail term in Agodi for similar crime.

He said that the offences committed contravened the provision of sections 509, 412 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State 2000.