A magistrate court sitting in Osi Community , in Akure North Local Government area of Ondo state has sentenced Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye, the Ajagun Ode of Ode community , a community beside Isinigbo ,along Akure – Ado road to 10 years imprisonment for unlawfully destroying church property , palm trees and food crops.
The Magistrate, Mrs. Bukola Ojo made the judgement few days ago after the counsel to the convict, pleaded the court to temper justice with mercy having found him guilty of the charges ,pronounced on him to be convicted to 10 years imprisonment.
The convict was earlier charged with six-count ranging on Felony to malicious damage.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Ajiboye Babatunde, while reading the facts of the case, said the convict, and others who are at large committed the offence on September 20,2022 at about 3:00pm at the ‘Pastorate and laity of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, along Ado Ekiti Road Igoba, Akure North conspired to commit Felony to wit: Malicious damage.
The traditional ruler was also alleged that he unlawfully demolished the perimeter fence of the pastorate and laity of the Church, valued about one million naira.
He was alleged to have also demolished the Palm trees and food crops valued about Five million, and damaged the signpost of the church.
“The convict, when arrested, could not give satisfactory account to the police,” Babatunde said.
The prosecutor called four witnesses to testify in court and prayed the court to punish him accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others who might indulge in a similar act.
He said the offence contravened sections 516, 451, 249(d), and 81 of the Criminal Code Cap 7 vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
The Defence counsel to the convict , Adeola Kayode,initially denied the allegations levelled against him and later pleaded and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
In her judgement, the Magistrate convicted and sentenced the accused to an imprisonment for a period of two years in count one with an option of fine of N20,000.
On count two and three the convict got two years each with no option of fine while he bagged another one year jail with an option of fine of N10,000.
On count five, the defendant is sentenced to an imprisonment for a period of two years with no option of fine.
On count six, the defendant is sentenced to an imprisonment for a period of one year with an option of fine of N20,000.
The court awarded the sum of ₦5m to the church for the damage done on her perimeter fence by the Monarch
Earlier, the church had gone to the monarch for proper settlement on the large verse of land bought and acquired by the church for over 30years even before the ancession of the monarch but refused and wanted to reclaim the landed property.
It was reliably gathered by Germane Reporters that, the church was initially left with no option than to pay the monarch ₦2m just for peace to reign but all efforts proved abortive untill court case was filed by the church authority.
