Man Jailed 12 Months For Stealing N350,000

Posted by African Examiner Crime Watch, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, October 29th, 2013

By Ruth Bamidele

A middle aged man, Yinka Fagbure, also known as Jide Babalola was on Tuesday jailed in Lagos for 12 Months for stealing 350,000.00 naira.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the defendant before a Lagos High Court Ikeja, presided by Justice Atinuke Ipaye on a three-count charge of stealing, fraudulent conversion of funds and forgery.

According to the prosecutor, Mr. A.M. Odholi, the defendant on May 5, 2011 stole and fraudulently converted a sum of N350,000.00, belonging to Hon. Tokunbo Akintelure, to personal use.

Fagbure, the prosecutor further stated had in July 20, 2010 forged a Skye Bank individual account opening form to open account number 1053558222 in the name of Jide Babalola.

The defendant was alleged to have presented the forged individual account opening form to Skye Bank as genuine.

The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to the provisions of section 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Cap C17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2003.

When the three count charges were read, the defendant pleaded guilty to them.

Yinka Fagbure had entered into plea-bargaining with the EFCC Prior to his arraignment.

Lekan Egberongbe, Counsel to the defendant, pleaded with the court for leniency, saying that the defendant did not waste the time of the court, having entered into plea-bargaining.

Egberongbe further pleaded with court to consider the wife and children of the defendant who have been psychologically traumatised by the arrest and subsequent arraignment of the defendant.

Justice Ipaye, in her judgment considered the guilty plea of the defendant and the plea-bargaining entered into and jailed him for 12months.

Justice Ipaye however, said that the sentence should commence from the day the defendant was remanded in custody of the EFCC.