Man bags 18 months in Prison for Stealing Stabilizer

The man identified as one Blessing Obazuwa, 40, has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

The man was sentenced to prison for stealing a 500 KVA stabilizer, by an Evboriaria Magistrates’ Court in Benin on Wednesday.

The Magistrate, Mrs Esther Aimofumhe, who frowned at the accused person’s previous conviction record (she had served two-year jail terms previously), without repentance, said it was obvious that the convict was not ready to change his lifestyle. 

Consequently, the Magistrate sentenced the accused person to six months imprisonment with an option of an N50,000 fine in Count 1, and one imprisonment in count 11, with an option of N50,000 fine. 

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp. (Mrs) Violet Soyemi, said the offence contravened Sections 390(9) and 417(G) of the Criminal Code. 

Soyemi told the court that the accused person committed the crime at No. 21, Nova Road, Ugbowo, Benin on June 28, 2016. 

The police prosecutor said the accused person was found at the residence of Mr David Osaghae at night, where he stole one 500KVA stabilizer valued at N35,000. 

She said the accused person was found with a knife with intent to commit a felony and when arrested, he confessed to the crime. 

Soyemi told the court that the stabilizer was attached to the borehole at the residence, noting that the accused had only just finished serving a two-year jail term. 

The convict, who pleaded guilty and admitted the exhibits, however, appealed for leniency.