ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- An Ondo State High Court in Akure has sentenced six individuals, including a self-proclaimed pastor, to two years in prison for their involvement in violence and breach of peace in the coastal community of Ayetoro in Ilaje Local Government Area.
The convicted individuals—Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, Victor Akinluwa, Isaac Ikuyelorimi, Lawrence Lemamu, George Eyekole, and Segun Okenla—were arrested by the police on 11 January, 2018, following a violent incident that resulted in injuries and property damage. They faced a 10-count charge related to violence and breach of peace.
During the trial, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Babatunde Falodun, accused the convicts of violating Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006. Eyekole faced an additional charge of attempting to murder Olu Obolo by shooting him with a gun during the crisis, as per Section 320 of the Criminal Code.
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While the convicts pleaded not guilty to all charges, the court found them guilty of malicious property damage under Section 37 of the Criminal Code.
Justice David Kolawole sentenced them to two years with hard labor, with an exception for Eyekole, who received a five-year prison term for attempted murder.
The judge granted an option of a N50,000 fine for all convicts (except Eyekole) and ordered them to pay N300,000 each as compensation for the damaged property.
Justice Kolawole warned that any breach of peace in the community would result in the reinstatement of the prison term for those who opted to pay the fine, with the government refunding the fine in case of a peace accord violation.
“If there is a breach of peace in the community and any of the convicts is charged to court, the prison term that had been suspended, through the payment of the fine, will be reinstated and the fine paid will be refunded by the government,” the judge ruled.