Dipo Femi, a 22-year-old, has been handed a hefty sentence of 27 years by the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti.
This ruling follows his arraignment before Justice Blessing Ajileye on July 19, 2022, facing five charges including conspiracy, burglary, and stealing under sections 421, 324, and 302 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.
The charges stem from an incident on March 14, 2022, at 5:30 am, in Oke Ureje, Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, where Dipo Femi and accomplices, still at large, conspired and unlawfully entered the shops of Victor Mark, Clement Moses, and Samuel Lucky.
The stolen goods amounted to a substantial value of N2.1 million, including various items like clothing, jewelry, footwear, cash totaling N200,000.00, perfumes, body sprays, and caps.
One of the victims recounted receiving a distressing call while on the way to church, alerting him of the burglary. Upon arriving at the scene, he discovered Dipo Femi in possession of some of the stolen items, who admitted to being part of a group of four, with three others having fled with the remaining loot.
Subsequently, law enforcement was summoned, leading to Dipo Femi’s arrest by the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigerian Police Force.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented four witnesses and submitted the defendant’s statements as evidence.
Justice Blessing Ajileye, in delivering the judgment, affirmed the prosecution’s case, concluding that Dipo Femi had been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the offenses of conspiracy and burglary.
For counts 1, 2, and 4 (conspiracy and burglary), Dipo Femi received concurrent sentences of seven years each, while for counts 3 and 5, he was sentenced to three years each. These sentences are to be served concurrently, starting from the date of his arrest.
