18-Year-Old Scavenger Sentenced to Two Weeks in Prison for Unlawful Entry

 A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, has sentenced 18-year-old Fatai Abiodun to two weeks in prison for unlawfully entering a residential property with the intention of stealing abandoned metal scraps.

Magistrate O.O. Latunji handed down the sentence after Abiodun pleaded guilty to the charge. She based her judgement on the evidence presented in court and the defendant’s admission of guilt.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Abiodun to pay ₦5,000 in restitution for damaging the complainant’s wristwatch during the incident.

Latunji also cautioned the convict against returning to any form of criminal activity after serving his sentence.

According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Oluseye Akinola, the offence took place on April 25 at Iyemetu-Adeyo in Ibadan. Akinola told the court that Abiodun, who works as a scavenger, entered the compound of one Rukayat George by crawling through a drainage channel after spotting some abandoned scrap materials.

“The convict attempted to remove various obstacles blocking his access when he was noticed by the complainant,” Akinola said. “When questioned, he tried to flee, which resulted in damage to the complainant’s wristwatch. He was subsequently apprehended and taken to the Iyemetu Police Station.”

The prosecutor added that the act violated Section 412 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.