Court sentences Traditional Ruler For 10years

By Miracle Esegha, Warri

The traditional ruler of Ode community in Akure North Local Government Area, Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye, the Ajagun has been sentenced for ten years by an Osi Magistrate Court.

The monarch was found culpable of six-count charge of malicious damage, for the destruction of properties belonging to a church without permission.

The presiding Magistrate Bukola Ojo made the order while given judgment on the matter.

The Prosecutor Sergeant Ajiboye Babatunde told the court that, the monarch Boboye and others conspired on September 20, 2022, to commit malicious damage to the ‘Pastorate and laity of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, along Ado Ekiti Road Igoba, Akure North.’

He said, “The convict, when arrested, could not give satisfactory account to the police.”

The suspect was arraigned with charged of destroying the perimeter fence of the church, palm trees, food crops, and a signpost, which were valued at five million naira.

Babatunde after calling four witnesses to testify, appealed to the court to impose a harsh sentence to deter others from committing similar offenses.

However, Boboye’s defense counsel, Adeola Kayode, debuked the allegations and pleaded for leniency.

Consequently, the magistrate sentenced Boboye to a total of eight years in prison and imposed fines of fifty thousand naira (N50,000).

The court further ordered Boboye to pay five million naira (N5 million) in compensation to the church for the damage caused.

Meantime, the sentence would run concurrently, this depicts that Boboye would serve a maximum of 2 years in prison if he failed to pay the compensation.