An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Sunday Gmaed, to three months in prison for stealing seven chickens valued at N57,000.
Chief Magistrate Kehinde Awosika delivered the ruling on Friday after the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and begged the court for leniency. However, the court offered Gmaed an option of a N30,000 fine instead of serving the jail term.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, informed the court that the offence took place on June 28 at about 9:30 a.m. at Odo village, along Ilawe road in Ado-Ekiti.
Adejare explained that Gmaed broke into the poultry farm of the complainant, Olaniyi Olasehinde, by cutting through the protective netting. He then proceeded to strangle and steal seven chickens from the premises.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravenes Section 302(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
Gmaed was first arraigned on July 2 and initially pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like amount. However, at the resumed hearing on July 11, he changed his plea to guilty and appealed to the court for mercy.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Awosika considered the defendant’s change of plea and his appeal for leniency but emphasised the need to deter criminal behaviour. The court, therefore, imposed a three-month sentence with an option of a fine.