An Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Falade Abiodun to three months imprisonment for conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The 32 year old convict was arraigned before Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola on four count charge bothering on conspiracy, unlawful seizure of Bajaj Motorcycle belonging to Ogunbiyi Damilare, threat to life and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
In his evidence before the court, the complainant, Ogunbiyi Damilare said, I gave my Bajaj Motorcycle to one Nurudeen Ozizi on hired purchase, after paying seven months installment of N15, 000, Nurudeen and the motorcycle was nowhere to be found, after searching for some weeks, I found out from the guarantor that my motorcycle was with the defendant and was used for commercial purpose.
On enquiry from the defendant, he said Nurudeen obtained a N70, 000 loan from him and when he was unable to offset the loan, he seized the motorcycle from him.
All efforts made to retrieve the motorcycle from him proved abortive, his guarantor offered him to pay the loan, so that the motorcycle could be released to the owner but he refused, hence my petition to the Police, he concluded.
To proof his case, Police prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare called two witnesses and tendered petition to the Police, original particulars of the motorcycle, statements of the defendant and complainant among others as exhibits.
The defendant spoke through his counsel, S.O. Njoku who pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy by considering the option of fine for the defendant.
In his judgment, Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola said, I found the defendant not guilty on counts 1 (Conspiracy), 2 (unlawful seizure) and 3 (threat to life), he is hereby discharged and acquitted in the three counts.
However, he is found guilty in count four Conduct likely to cause breach of the peace and he is convicted accordingly.
‘’ Having listened to the plea of the defence counsel on behalf of the defendant, he is sentenced to 3 months imprisonment or N10, 000 fine in lieu of imprisonment.