A 29-year old Nurudeen Fatai who flashed his phone light at the palace of a traditional ruler in Lagos at night has finally been convicted and sentenced accordingly.
Fatai was sentenced to community service and thereafter allowed to go to serve as deterrent to those who might want to attempt to commit such offence at the sacred place at night.
The incident happened at Ijegun area of Lagos in July 2017 in front of the palace of the monarch where the police arrested Fatai.
P.M.EXPRESS had reported the incident when Fatai was brought before the Isolo Magistrates court. He pleaded not guilty then and was granted bail but could not meet the bail condition and was remanded in prison custody.
It was gathered that Fatai was in prison custody for several months because his relations were unable to meet the bail condition. He then decided to change his plea and plead guilty for the offence so that the court will sentence him instead of the uncertainty of his release from custody.
When he pleaded guilty, the prosecutor, Mr Oje Uagbale presented facts before the court and asked the court to sentence him to serve as deterrent to others who might try such offence. The presiding Magistrate, Mr O.A. Ogbe found him guilty and sentenced accordingly. Fatai was detailed to clean the court premises over a period and was allowed to go home.
P.M.EXPRESS had reported that Fatai’s journey to prison started when he was going home one evening and switched on his phone light because the area was dark. The police at Isheri Oshun Division who were on patrol then accosted him and alleged that he flashed the light at the palace with the intention to commit felony.
Fatai said when the police accosted him then, he thought it was the normal police harassment until he was taken to the police station and detained till morning. He said he was taken to court and he spent some months but he decided to change his plea so that he can be sentenced as his people could not meet up with the bail conditions.