By Shefiu Adeyemo
An Akure Chief Magistrate Court has sentenced a 22 year old maid who stole her master’s N1.5 million to six months’ imprisonment.
Interestingly, she was freed the same day as her sentence was being read, having been on remand at the Olokuta Correctional Service Centre, Akure for the past six months since her case started.
Specifically, the court, sitting at Oke-Eda, sentenced the maid, Ekuyik Ebitu Warri, to six months imprisonment for converting N1, 034, 400 property of one Golden Tripod International Limited, to her use.
She was said to have been facing different trials since November 15 last year for running away with her boss’ money.
The Prosecution said the accused, on 22nd of October, 2019 at about 10:00 am at New Stadium Road, Akure in the Akure Magisterial District fraudulently converted the sum of#1,034, 400.00k, from the proceed of Golden Tripod International Limited to her use.
This contravened section 383 and punishable under section 390 (6), of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol, Laws of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006.
The accused who faced a count charge, pleaded not guilty to the offence levelled against her.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Uloh Goodluck O., told the court that the accused person has been at the Olokuta Correctional Service Centre, for the past six months since the case started.
He added that the Complainant was no more coming to the court and this has grounded the case. He therefore advised the court to use its discretion over the case.
The charge read as follows: “that you Ekuyik Ebitu Warri, 22 years old, was on the 22nd of October 2019, at about 10:00 am at New Stadium Road, Akure in the Akure Magisterial District did fraudulently convert the sum of #1, 034, 400.00, property of Golden Tripod International Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390(6) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 1 Law of Ondo State Nigeria, 2006.”
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Aladejana sentenced the accused person to six months imprisonment, from the day she was taken to the prison, which lapsed on 24th of September, 2020.
Noting that the accused had already spent six months at the Olokuta Correctional Service Centre, he therefore ordered her release.
