I Usually Go To Church To Steal – Suspect Says

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 21-year old, Samuel Afolabi, arrested for stealing mobile phones and cash at Celestial Church of Christ in Ogun State during vigil while prayer was going on, has told the Court that he actually goes to Church in order to steal and not to pray.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Celestial Church of Christ, Itunu Parish in Ilawo area of Abeokuta in Ogun State. 

He was said to have admitted before the Police in a statement that he usually goes to churches to steal items before he was eventually arrested.

The suspect, Afolabi, did what many would consider an abomination; as prayer was going on, he sneaked in and burgled the Church through the window, stole a mobile phone including cash and then escaped.

However, he was eventually caught with the help of a phone tracking device, which led to his arrest. He was subsequently charged before the Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for the alleged offence.

The Court, which found him guilty as charged, then sentenced him to one year imprisonment for stealing a Tecno phone valued at N76,000 and N52,000 cash belonging to Ganiu Adeola and Mr. Dairo Theophilus respectively.

Afolabi, who had no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of burglary and stealing and confessed before the Court.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Olaide Rawlings, had told the Court that the convict committed the offences on 24th February, 2021at the Church.
Rawlings said that the convict, at midnight during the vigil, burgled and entered into the Church through the window and stole the items and that the offences contravened sections 415, 383 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The prosecutor then asked the Court to sentence him accordingly to serve as deterrent to others who might commit similar offence. 

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. D.S. Ogongo, in his judgment, said that all pieces of evidence tendered in Court had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty of the offence.
Ogongo, therefore, sentenced him to one year imprisonment without an option of a fine.