Court sentences two Secondary school leavers 7 years imprisonment for stealing Church Piano

By Editor

A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square TBS,  has sentenced two  Senior Secondary School (SSS 3), leavers  Udochukwu Anyanwu and Udo Chibike ( also known as Lasis), to seven years imprisonment each for breaking in to a Church to steal piano. 

Justice Yetunde Adesanya sentenced them after they pleaded guilty to a plea bargain agreement.

The judge held that the term of the imprisonment will start from the day they were first remanded in prison on January 19, 2017.

The convicts were first remanded in prison on January 19, 2017, by a Lagos Magistrates Court and were later charged and arraigned on 27 June, 2018, before Justice Yetunde Adesanya on several offences of conspiracy to commit felony, to wit rob and robbery preferred against them  and they pleaded  not guilty.

Trial commenced on December 4, 2018 and the Lagos State prosecuting counsel Mrs A. O. Oluwafemi, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, called three witnesses and tendered exhibits. 

But half way through the trial Anyanwu and Chibike  on February 4, 2019, went through trial within trial and the court dismissed the trial within trial after ruling that there was a prima facie case against them.

When the case came up on March 4, 2022, the convicts opted for a plea bargain agreement and it was adjourned till March 29, 2022, for sentence.

Anyanwu and Chibike who were re-arraigned on a one-count amended charge of stealing before Justice Adesanya yesterday changed their not guilty plea to guilty.

 “The court has ascertained from the defendants that they entered into the plea bargain agreement on their own free volition, free from any coercion and that nobody promised them.

“I have considered the plea bargain and sentencing agreement which was agreed and duly executed between the parties.

“I am persuaded that the terms of the agreement are just.

Adesanya said “I hereby convict you Udochukwu Anyanwu and Udo Chibike of the offence of stealing and you are guilty as charged.

“Having found you guilty on the one-count amended charge, I, therefore, sentence you to seven years imprisonment each with effect from the time of remand, being January 19, 2017,” she held.

The judge held that the convicts should be further remanded at the prison until the expiration of their jail term.

Earlier the Lagos state prosecuting counsel Mrs A. O. Oluwafemi, told the court that the convicts committed the offence on December 9, 2016.

She said that the incident took place at about 2pm, at 51, Adeleye Ori Okuta Street in Ikorodu area of Lagos, at a worship place.

Oluwafemi  said that the convicts  broke in to a Church and stole a Piano.

According to him, the offence committed is punishable under Section 287 (5) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.

Oluwafemi said that the prosecution entered into a plea bargain agreement with the defendant.

“We are aware that this court is not bound by the plea bargain agreement.

“In view of the plea of guilty of the defendants and the plea bargain agreement, we urge the court to accept same and make it the judgment of this court,” she said.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Nurudeen Bakare, aligned him with the submission of the prosecution and urged the court to accept the plea bargain agreement.