Three men, Alhaji Alabi, Saliman Iyanda and Suleiman Alao were on Tuesday convicted and sentenced by Chief Magistrate Kudirat Yahaya of the Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.
They were each sentenced to two years imprisonment with the option of fine of N15,000 for each of the three count charges. However the total of six years jail terms are to run concurrently which means the convicts would spend two years in jail if they were unable to pay N15,000 fines for each crime for which they were convicted.
The now convicts stood trial on three charges of criminal trespass and criminal intimidation against a now 91-year-old woman, Mrs. Sadatu Bello contrary to Sections 97, 348 and 397 of Penal Code Law.
According to the First Information Report, obtained by our correspondent in Ilorin, complainant, Bello, who presented her petition had on May 13, 2016, through Saraa Chambers, sent a p petition to the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command.
The petition was then endorsed by then CP to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Ilorin, for discreet investigation.
The statement said, “That some years ago, she (Bello) inherited parcel of land measuring 279 feet by 243 feet from her later father, Alhaji Bello Belukor, one of the past Balogun Alanamu.
“That the parcel of land situate at Olorunda village along Ilorin-Ogbomosho road. Bello said sometimes in the month of February, 2016; when she visited the said parcel of land with her children; she met Alabi, Iyanda and Alao; all of Olorunda village along Ilorin-Ogbomosho road to have conspired with one another, entered the said land and also threatened to kill her, if she ventured to come back to the said land again.
“Investigation conducted at the CIID revealed that you, Alhaji Bayo Alabi, Saliman Iyanda, and Suleiman Alao, criminally conspired with one another, entered onto the said land and threatened the complainant not to come onto the said land again. You thereby committed the above-mentioned offenses.”
Chief Magistrate, a thorough and versatile jurist in her judgment said the prosecutor, Mr. Matthew Ologbonsaye proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.
According to her, the defendants also made will ful statements before the police, which formed reliable evidence against them.
According to her, the defendants did not deny threatening to kill the woman and other ingredients necessary to prove the allegations against them.
Yahaya therefore convicted Alabi, Iyanda and Alao according to the law.
The Chief Magistrate, therefore, stated that in view of the pleadings by the defense counsel, Mr. Mohammed Sulu-Gambari, each of the convicts, was sentenced to two years imprisonment or an option of fine of N15,000.00 on each for the three charges. She stated that the sentences of two years or fine of N15, 000 on each of the three charges were to run concurrently.
Yahaya said, “I pass sentence of two years imprisonment or fine of N15,000 on each of the three accused persons for each of the three charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, and criminal intimidation.
“The total concurrent sentence is two years or total fine of N45,000.00”
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