Osun Pastor Jailed For Stealing Turkey, Goat

By Damilola Olawuyi Osogbo

A Pastor, Solomon Oni Opaalade, has been sentenced to four years and five months imprisonment for stealing turkey and goat.

The convict was also charged for threatening one Oluwasegun Hamed with charms, after stealing his He-goat.

The Principal State Counsel from Ministry of Justice in Osun state, Mr Adekunle Adeniyi, alleged that the accused stole nine turkeys belonging to the complainant.

The prosecution further alleged that the accused stole a goat valued at N18,000, property of Hammed.

The Pastor who is a founder of one Cherubim and Sheraphim Church at Baruwa Estate, Governors office area, Osogbo, was alleged to have been known for such act in the street.

He pleaded not guilty to the allegations of stealing, breach of peace and threat to life and forcibly entry leveled against him by the police.

The prosecutor called five witnesses including Oluwasegun Hammed, Shittu Tokunbo, Pastor Stephen Oyeyemi, Olayinka Bayowa and Cletus Monjok who investigated the case. Two turkeys, charms and statement of the convict were tendered as well.

The PW 1 during his evidence in chief stated that when he informed the convict that he had told the community about the theft of his He-goat, the convict returned the following day fully dressed in Charms or local juju and other fetish objects and threatened to deal with him for exposing him.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Adijat Oloyede, sentenced the convict to 18 months imprisonment on each of the three counts with an option of N10,000 each.