Ondo State Magistrates’ Court in Akure, the capital city of the state, South West of Nigeria, has handed down a two-year prison sentence to Friday Okeneji, a man who was found guilty of stealing chemical substances worth N130,000. Okeneji, a pastor affiliated with a well-known church in Iwaro Oka Akoko, situated in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area, committed the offense on July 2, 2023, within the town.
According to reports, the accused forcibly entered a chemical shop and made off with the valuable items. However, his criminal actions did not go unnoticed, as he was apprehended and subsequently brought before the court to face charges.
Upon being arraigned in court, Friday Okeneji faced a two-count charge for the theft. When the charges were read to him, the pastor, rather than contesting the allegations, pleaded guilty. During his plea, he explained that he resorted to committing the offense out of desperation for survival.
Okeneji expressed that he lacked any viable means of livelihood and was burdened with the obligation of funding his mother’s burial, which was scheduled for August and required a sum of N150,000.
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After considering the evidence and the pastor’s plea, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni declared Friday Okeneji guilty of the charges levied against him.
Consequently, the court sentenced him to two years of imprisonment. However, an alternative option was presented, allowing the pastor to secure his freedom upon payment of a fine amounting to N100,000.
Furthermore, Magistrate Sekoni took the opportunity to impart some words of wisdom to the convicted individual, urging him to change his ways and adopt a more righteous path in life.
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