Ondo Monarch Jailed Two Years For Fraud, Stealing

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Friday convicted and sentenced the Akamuja of Igburowo, a community in the local government to two years imprisonment.

The monarch was said to have fraudulently converted the money meant for his chiefs to his personal account, and this the court established.

Recalls that the monarch had in 2012 been banished from the town after a peaceful protest by the people of the community who complained about the highhandedness of the monarch and other atrocities.

Also, the Ondo State government had earlier suspended the monarch but was later recalled after pleas by some respected people in  the state.

The monarch who was arraigned on a 36 count charge  bothering on stealing, fraud, illegal conversion of the monthly salaries of his domestic workers and Chiefs, false declaration and impersonation among others was said to have earlier vacated the town.

Delivery  his judgement, the presiding Magistrate, Mr O.J Adelegan said “the convict appears to me a conscienceless person, who has no iota of regret, indulging in such an opprobrious and despicable act.”

“However, since it is no gainsaying, that our law is no respecter of any personality, I strongly deprecate the ungainly and unbecoming conduct of the convict, particularly, his fraudulent instinct to corruptly enrich himself at the expense of others. Though, I have
listened attentively to the plea of his counsel, from the available record, I
see him as a neophyte, I mean a first offenders”

“Nevertheless, I am of the humble mindset that if the convict is not appropriately sanctioned, the danger inherent therein is that people
of like minds may be influenced or encouraged to see criminality as a veritable means of livelihood. To this end, the convict is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment.”

“On counts 10-21 of the charge, which are on fraudulent conversion, the convict is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment or to pay a fine of 500,000.00 on each of the counts”

Lastly, on count 22 of the charge which is on obtaining by false pretense, the convict is also hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N500,000.00, respectively. In all, both fines and sentences are ordered to run concurrently. The monetary exhibit in this case, which is N408,000.00 is hereby ordered to be returned to Igburowo community forthwith,” he added..

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the state government, Mrs. Bola Joel Ogundadegbe commended the Magistrate for the judgment.