MICHAEL AKINOLA
A cleric, Pastor Friday Okeneji of the Christ Apostolic Church( CAC),Ona Iwa-Mimo, Iwaro, Oka Akoko, in Akoko South West Local Government Area, Ondo State, has confessed that he steals to survive because he has no means of livelihood.
P.M.EXPRESS reports the 29-year old Pastor Okeneji has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State for breaking into a shop and stealing items.
The incident happened on 2nd July, 2023, at Iwaro Oka Akoko, Ondo State.
He was said to have been arrested after he burgled the shop and stole some chemical substances worth N130,000 and he was caught in the act.
He was subsequently charged before the Court on the two-point charge and he pleaded guilty while telling the Court that he committed the offence in order to survive.
He explained to the Court that he had no means of livelihood, hence he was forced to commit the offence in order to survive to meet up with his obligations to his family.
“I had to pay N150,000 for my mother’s burial coming up in August, 2023 and I have no means of getting the money and I decided to steal before I was caught in the act” he said.
The prosecutor presented the facts of the matter and asked the Court to sentence him accordingly having pleaded guilty before the Court.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs.Damilola Sekoni, found him guilty as charged and convicted him on a two-count charge.
However, the Court ordered that the prison term will run concurrently with an option of N100,000 fine.
The Court enjoined the convict to turn a new leaf and live a righteous life henceforth. The Magistrate also urged the convict to imbibe true Christian attributes of hard work and be prayerful as stated in the scriptures.
He has been remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre pending when he will pay the option of fine or serve the sentence in line with the Court’s judgment.