Ibadan, March 9, 2026 (NAN) An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, on Friday, sentenced a cleaner, Tobi Gabriel, 24, to eight months imprisonment for stealing a colleague’s phone.
Gabriel, an employee of Sumal Foods Ltd, Oluyole, Ibadan, was arraigned on March 9, on a charge of stealing, to which he pleaded guilty.
Gabriel also confessed that he sold the Samsung phone worth N208,000, for N30,000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Moyosore Atanda remanded the defendant in a correctional facility and adjourned the case until March 13, for review of facts and sentencing.
At the resumption of proceedings on Friday, the Prosecutor, Insp Elisha Tellang reviewed the facts of the case and tendered exhibits, consequently Atanda found Gabriel guilty as charged.
She thereafter sentenced the convict to eight- calendar months imprisonment or payment of N100,000 restitution to the complainant.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Elisha Tellang told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 5, at 1:10 p.m., at the aforementioned company.
Tellang said the convict stole a Samsung phone worth N208,000 belonging to his colleague, Jimlas Ayeni.
He said Gabriel lent his charger to Ayeni, also a cleaner, to charge his phone, but after sometime the latter discovered that his phone was no longer where it was plugged.
“Upon investigation, CCTV revealed that Gabriel unplugged the phone while he was mopping the floor.
“Subsequently, the case was referred to the police who charged Gabriel to court to serve as deterrent to others in the organization,” the prosecutor said.
Tellang said the offence contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)
