An Osogbo High Court yesterday sentenced 31-yearold Kelvin Igha Ighodalo to 45 years imprisonment without an option of fine for stealing a Sony Ericson phone valued at N50,000 belonging to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State. The phone thief, who was standing trial on a six-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining properties by false, stealing, impersonation and advance free fraud, pleaded guilty to the charges.

He was sentenced to 10 years each for the first three counts and also bagged five years jail term for each of the last three counts.

But the sentence will run concurrently. The convict, who stole the state governor’s phone during his swearing-in, was said to have earlier served six years’ imprisonment in Ikoyi Prison for murder, stole the governor’s phone on November 27, 2010 at the state Technical College Sport Grounds.

The charge sheet reads in part: “Kelvin and others now at large were on May 24th, 2011 impersonated the governor by using his phone with intent to defraud and obtained the sum of N500,000 from his royal majesty, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolara Owa-Obokun of Ijeshaland.

“Similarly, impersonating Aregbesola, the convict also accosted one Shenge Rahman and having defrauded him of a sum of N200,000, he later met his waterloo while furthering the mischievous act.”

Ighodalo’s counsel, Mr. Ameachi Ngwu, had prayed the court to commit the convict to community service, stressing that he should not be incarcerated but be placed where people could see him as a convict.

However, the prosecution, who is also the assistant principal state counsel, Mr. Biodun Badiora, told the court that the convict had committed an offence contrary to Section 8(c) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Free Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006. In his judgement, Justice Falola said the convict did not deserve to have contact with community.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/aregbesolas-phone-thief-bags-45-years-jail/

It serves him right, doesn't it? How can one go and steal a whole governor's phone? Its better to just be an 'agbero'. I think he deserves it.