Student bags three months’ community service over threat to life, violence

By Adejayan Gbenga

A Magistrate Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan on Tuesday sentenced 18-year-old Fawaz Hamzat, a student of Olunde Community Secondary School, to three months of community service.

Hamzat was convicted for chasing a rival secondary school student with a cutlass during an inter-school fight.

The prosecuting counsel, Inspector Oluseye Akinola, told the court that Hamzat committed the offence on May 22 at about 3:00 p.m. in the Olunde area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Akinola said that a neighbourhood security officer, along with other concerned community members, apprehended Hamzat after he was found in possession of a cutlass while chasing students of Olunde Grammar School, a rival institution, during the altercation.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened the provisions of Section 249 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

While delivering judgment, Magistrate Mrs. O.O. Latunji stated that she convicted and sentenced Hamzat based on his guilty plea and the evidence presented by the prosecution.

Latunji warned the convict to desist from any future involvement in criminal activity or risk facing a harsher penalty.

“To serve as a deterrent to others, Hamzat is sentenced to three months of community service,” she declared.