Church Member Jailed For Stealing Tithe

PAUL  IYOGHOJIE

A Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Island, has jailed a 26-year old member of St. Patrick Catholic Church at Idumagbo, Lagos Island, Elochukwu Nnoruga, for theft.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine for stealing the sum of N214,000 from the church’s tithe box after service.
The convict was sentenced by Magistrate Mr A. A. Adefulire after he pleaded guilty to the one count charge preferred against him by the police.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Ben Ekundayo had informed the Court that the convict committed the offence on 14 August,2016 at about 7pm at the St.Patrick Catholic Church, Idumagbo, Lagos Island.
Ekundayo told the court that the convict entered the church after service and pretended to be praying and in the process he stole the sum of N214,000 from the church tithe’s box.
He said during investigation, the convict confessed to the crime that greed pushed him to steal from the tithe box.
The convict allegedly told the police after he was arrested: “After church service on the day of the incident, I stayed back inside the church and started praying loudly to the hearing of church members still around unknown to them that I was planning to steal from the tithe box.
“And immediately the church members left, I went to pick the tithe box and took it to a hideout inside the church and stole the money inside.

“I promised to change if I am set free.”
Ekundayo said the offence the convict committed is punishable under section 285 of the criminal law of Lagos State,    2011.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charge and the facts of the case presented by the prosecutor.
Delivering judgement, Mr Adefulire said: “It is a pity that people do not see the house of God as a sacred place anymore.
“Since you Nnoruga have chosen  crime to hard work, the law has caught up with you, and you are hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.”