A Chief magistrates’ court in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, handed down a three-month prison sentence to Kabiru Lawal, 35, for the theft of goats and a ram.
Lawal had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges of stealing and fraudulent conversion.
The court proceedings, presided over by Magistrate V.B. William, revealed that Lawal committed the offences in June 2023.
According to the prosecutor, Lawrence Olu-Balogun, Lawal fraudulently obtained eight goats and one ram from Ibrahim Akanbi, valued at N300,000.
Akanbi had entrusted Lawal with the animals under the pretext that he would help sell them.
However, instead of fulfilling this obligation, Lawal sold the animals and kept the proceeds for himself.
“The complainant gave the defendant eight goats and a ram to help him sell them, but the defendant sold all of them and converted the money to his personal use,” Olu-Balogun detailed during the trial.
Following the crime, Lawal absconded from Ogun state, evading authorities and failing to remit the money to Akanbi.
He was eventually apprehended and brought to justice.
The charges brought against Lawal were under sections 419(b) and 390(3) of the Ogun Criminal Code. Magistrate William sentenced him to three months imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
In her ruling, Magistrate William also provided Lawal with the option of making restitution.
He can repay the N300,000 equivalent to the value of the stolen animals to the complainant, Ibrahim Akanbi, as an alternative to serving the full prison term.
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