crime

Ibadan Court Theft Sentence Handed to UK Returnee Over Stolen kitchen Items

Published

1 year ago

July 1, 2025

Ibadan court theft sentence delivered as UK-returnee Kamilu Olona gets eight months jail for stealing kitchen items from late father’s tenants

Ibadan court theft sentence has landed a UK-returnee, Kamilu Olona, in prison for stealing household items from tenants living in his late father’s property.

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The Grade ‘A’ Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, handed Olona an eight-month jail term on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and theft.

Presiding over the case, Ms O.E. Owoseni ruled that Olona’s guilty plea nullified the need for further evidence and swiftly delivered judgement.

The court sentenced him to six months for conspiracy, with an alternative of six months of community service, and eight months for stealing, also with the option of equivalent community service. All sentences are to run concurrently.

The Ibadan court theft sentence follows a series of theft incidents reported by tenants at the Bodija Market area of Ibadan, where Olona had repeatedly stolen kitchen utensils and personal belongings during their absence.

Prosecutor Inspector Ayodele Ayeni informed the court that the convict was apprehended on February 11 after several complaints from the tenants, who had grown tired of mysterious thefts in their apartments.

Olona was caught red-handed with pots, spoons, plates, and other household items.

“Some of the tenants, who could no longer bear the rate at which their things were getting stolen, alerted the police,” Ayeni said.

He added that the stolen items were presented in court as exhibits. The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II, Law of Oyo State 2000.

Some of the tenants, who could no longer bear the rate at which their things were getting stolen, alerted the police.

In his plea for leniency, Olona revealed he had studied in the United Kingdom but was forced to return home following the death of his father.

“My father sent me to study in the United Kingdom, but as soon as he died, I could no longer finance my education and had to return to Nigeria. Subsequently, I could no longer afford anything and started stealing from my father’s tenants,” he confessed.

The Ibadan court theft sentence has sparked public conversation over the growing issue of economic hardship and its role in petty crimes.

Legal analysts have praised the court for offering a community service option in lieu of jail time, encouraging restorative justice where appropriate.

With the court’s decision now final, Olona will either serve his sentence in prison or engage in supervised community service as stipulated.

The case serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of theft, regardless of one’s background or prior circumstances.

Court watchers note that the ruling also underscores the importance of secure tenant relations and property management in urban centres, particularly as crime rates fluctuate in response to rising economic pressures.

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As Olona begins his sentence, the justice system in Oyo State reaffirms its zero-tolerance stance on theft and the importance of accountability for all citizens.

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crime

EFCC Uncovers Illegal Industrial Complex in Ogun, Arrests Foreigners

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a sprawling illegal industrial complex in Ogere, Ogun State, allegedly involved in petroleum refining, lithium processing, illegal mining and other unauthorised industrial activities.

The operation, led by the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, reportedly resulted in the arrest of foreign nationals, police officers and other Nigerians suspected of involvement in activities at the facility.

The discovery was disclosed on Saturday, November 7, following an inspection of the complex by the commission’s chairman and other officials.

According to the findings, the facility, allegedly operated by foreign nationals believed to be Chinese, contained several industrial installations, including a petroleum processing plant, a lithium processing factory, a specialised wood-processing facility and a power generation plant.

Investigators also reportedly discovered warehouses stocked with motorcycles, satellite communication equipment and thousands of power banks.

The commission said the complex was allegedly being used for large-scale illegal mining of precious stones and the processing of petroleum products without the required authorisations.

It also uncovered suspected production of unwholesome alcoholic beverages at the site.

The latest findings came days after the EFCC announced the discovery of an illegal oil refinery in Ogere, where operatives found underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

The earlier operation was conducted on October 31 by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence gathering and surveillance of suspected illegal refining activities.

According to the EFCC, preliminary investigations indicated that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State before transporting it to Ogere for processing.

The commission said the operators subjected the material to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, for sale in the Nigerian market.

Two underground tanks inspected during the operation contained substances suspected to be AGO.

The refinery was deserted when operatives initially arrived, while security personnel at the premises reportedly told investigators that the alleged Chinese operators had never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.

However, the subsequent inspection led by Olukoyede revealed that the location housed a much wider range of industrial activities than the petroleum processing operation initially uncovered.

The EFCC has described the activities as a serious threat to the country’s economy, particularly because of their alleged implications for legitimate businesses, government revenue and regulatory compliance.

The discovery has also raised concerns about the activities of foreign operators allegedly engaging in unauthorised industrial and extractive operations in Nigeria.

The commission is expected to establish the identities of the operators, determine the ownership structure of the complex and investigate the extent of the alleged economic and environmental violations.

The arrests of foreign nationals, police officers and other Nigerians also suggest that investigators are examining possible local involvement and support for the operations.

The EFCC has yet to disclose the full identities of those arrested or the exact financial value of the industrial installations and materials recovered.

The investigation is expected to determine those responsible for the alleged activities and establish the extent of losses arising from the operations.