Court Sentences Man To 45 Years Imprisonment For Stealing Governor’s Handset

A 31-year old ex-policeman, Kelvin Ighodalo has been sentenced to 45-year imprisonment by an Osogbo High Court for stealing a N50,000 Sony Ericsson phone belonging to Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Justice Oyejide Falola, who precided over the case, found the accused guilty on six counts, which included conspiracy, stealing and fraud.

Justice Falola thereafter sentenced Mr Ighodalo to 10-year imprisonment for the first three counts and five years for each of the last three which included impersonation, obtaining property by falsehood and collusion.

The Judge explained that the convict deserved the sentence and held that the convict used the phone to obtain N500, 000 from the Owa of Ilesa, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, while he obtained N200, 000 from Shengen Rahman, an associate of the governor.

The defence counsel, Mr. Amaechi  Ngwu pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client by giving him the minimum punishment.

But Justice Jide Falola of the high court in Osogbo, the state capital, discountenanced the plea and sentenced Kelvin to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine.