Ondo court sentences security guard to 3-yrs in prison over burglary, theft

By Boye Oyeyemi

A Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State has sentenced a security guard named Joseph Meshack to three years’ imprisonment for burglary and theft.

Meshack was arraigned alongside another defendant, Akon Samson, on a five-count charge bordering on shop breaking and stealing, and plead guilty to the charges brought before them.

The prosecuting counsel, D.S. Msonter-Shagba, told the court that the incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. on February 20, 2026, at Oba Afunbiowo Housing Estate, Oke Aro area of Akure.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants allegedly broke into a shop and stole one crate of soft drinks, onions and generator wires belonging to Ogunsanmi Kehinde, with the items valued at N63,000.

The prosecution further stated that the defendants also stole a Sun King solar light belonging to Mrs Temilade Ayodeji, valued at N95,000.

Msonter-Shagba noted that the offences contravened sections 383, 390(3), 410, 413 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006, and urged the court to impose a penalty that would deter others from committing similar offences.

In his ruling, Magistrate Sekoni confirmed that Meshack was employed as a security guard at Afunbiowo Housing Estate at the time of the offence, before subsequently sentencing him to three years’ imprisonment on each of the five counts with options of fines ranging from N50,000 to N100,000.

The second defendant on the other hand was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum. The case was eventually adjourned to May 4, 2026, for further hearing.