An Akure Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State has sentenced a security guard, Joseph Meshack, to three years in prison for shop breaking and theft.
Meshack was docked alongside Akon Samson on a five-count charge related to shop breaking and stealing. The first defendant pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him in court.
The prosecuting counsel, D.S. Msonter-Shagba, informed the court that the offence occurred at about 5:30 a.m. on February 20, 2026, at the Oba Afunbiowo Housing Estate in the Oke Aro area of Akure.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants unlawfully broke into a shop and made away with a crate of soft drinks, onions and generator cables belonging to Ogunsanmi Kehinde, with the items estimated to be worth N63,000.
The court also heard that the suspects stole a Sun King solar lamp belonging to Mrs Temilade Ayodeji, valued at N95,000.
Msonter-Shagba stated that the offences violated Sections 383, 390(3), 410, 413 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, urging the court to impose a punishment that would serve as a warning to others.
While delivering judgment, the presiding magistrate, Sekoni, noted that Meshack had been working as a security guard at Afunbiowo Housing Estate before committing the crime.
The court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment on each of the five counts, with options of fines ranging between N50,000 and N100,000. The magistrate ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
Meanwhile, the second defendant was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in the same amount. The case was adjourned to May 4, 2026, for further proceedings.
