By John Moses
Two neighbourhood security guards have been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing valuables from a car involved in an accident, a Nigerian court ruled on Tuesday.
The Grade A Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, convicted Kenneth Agwazin and Ayuba Pojti after both pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and theft. Court President S.M. Akintayo handed down one-year prison terms for each charge, to run consecutively.
Akintayo acknowledged that the men were first-time offenders and had not delayed court proceedings by pleading guilty early, but stressed that the crime was a serious breach of public trust.
A third defendant, Tomiwa Akinsola, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of ₦200,000 (approximately £100), with two sureties of similar standing.
Prosecutors told the court that the offences were committed at around 2 a.m. on 23 December 2024 in the Asi-Bodija area of Ibadan. The convicted men, along with others still at large, were accused of stealing a range of valuables totalling approximately ₦1.13 million (around £870) from a crashed car.
Among the stolen items were 19 alloy rims, a high-value speaker, gold jewellery, tools, an electric water dispenser, and various gift items—all property of a man identified as Tade Suara.
According to the prosecution, Suara had left the scene temporarily to take injured relatives to hospital, leaving his damaged vehicle unattended beneath the Asi-Bodija bridge.
The defendants were employed as community security personnel at the time of the theft.
Authorities stated that the incident violated Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Oyo State Criminal Code.
