An Osogbo High Court yesterday sentenced a 31-year-old man, Kelvin Igha-Igbodalo to 45 years imprisonment without an option of fine for stealing a Sony Ericson phone belonging to Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
Igha-Igbodalo is alleged to have stolen Aregbesola’s phone during the swearing-in ceremony of the governor in 2010. The convict used the phone to dupe many unsuspecting people by directing them to pay money into a particular bank account on pretext that it was the governor’s directive.
The ex-convict was eventually arrested and charged with six counts of conspiracy, obtaining properties by false pretence, stealing, impersonation and advance free fraud. Igha-Igbodalo pleaded guilty to the charges slammed against him and Justice Oyejide Falola sentenced him to 45 years imprisonment to run concurrently without an option of fine.
Daily Trust learnt that the ex-convict had earlier served six years imprisonment at Ikoyi prison in Lagos over a murder charge leveled against him.
According to the charge sheet, “Kelvin and others now at large in May 24th, 2011 impersonated the governor by using his phone with intent to defraud, and obtained the sum of N500,000 from his royal majesty, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, Owa-Obokun of Ijesha land”.
The prosecution, Mr. Biodun Badiora, told the court that the convict committed an offence contrary to section 8(c) and is punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Free Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006.
Counsel to the convict, Mr. Ameachi Ngwu, prayed the court to commit the convict to community service.
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