Man sentenced to 21 years for stealing church tithe box

A Magistrates’ Court in Akure has sentenced a 38-year-old bricklayer, Olushola Olatunde, to 21 years imprisonment for breaking into a church and stealing items, including an iron tithe box, with a total value of N1,340,900.

Olatunde, whose address was not disclosed, faced a six-count charge involving breaking, illegal entry, and theft.

He pleaded guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Damilola Sekoni convicted and sentenced Olatunde to 21 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

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In delivering the verdict, Sekoni stated: “In counts one, two, three, five, and six, the defendant is sentenced to four years imprisonment each, and in count four, the convict is sentenced to one-year imprisonment.”

However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning Olatunde will serve four years in custody.

The State Prosecutor, D.S. Msonter-Shagba, told the court that Olatunde committed the offences between December 24, 2024 and January 8, 2025 at different times and locations in Akure.

Msonter-Shagba detailed that on December 24, 2024, at No. 17 Plaza Road, Isolo, Akure, Olatunde broke into the Revelation of God Miracle Church and stole a 16-channel live series audio mixer worth N250,000 and a public address system valued at N250,000.

Similarly, on 8 December 2024, at No. 7 Ore-Ofe Street, Oke Ijebu, Akure, he broke into the Garden of Faith (CAC) Church, stealing items that included an amplifier worth N230,000, a 6.5kV generator valued at N250,000, two lengths of 12mm rods worth N19,600, and an iron tithe box valued at N35,000, totalling N534,600.

The prosecutor further revealed that on December 24, 2024, Olatunde stole 33 bags of cement valued at N306,900 from Shahsha Market, Kilometre 12, Owo Express Road, Akure. The stolen items in total were valued at N1,340,900.

Msonter-Shagba argued that the offences contravened Sections 383, 390(9), 415, and 413(2) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, and urged the court to convict the defendant.

Olatunde, who admitted to selling the stolen items, pleaded for leniency. However, Magistrate Sekoni handed down the sentence, emphasising that it would serve as a deterrent to others.