A 42-year-old man, Jimoh Tajudeen, has blamed what he described as a spiritual battle for his involvement in stealing, following his conviction by an Akungba-Akoko Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State.
Tajudeen was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for stealing a mobile phone and an additional three months for unlawful possession of three other phones.
The defendant was accused of stealing an Infinix Hot 60i valued at ₦150,000, belonging to Daisi Joseph, and possessing an Itel A50, a Tecno phone without an IMEI number and a Tecno Camon 17.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olasunkanmi Boboye, told the court that the offences were committed around 2pm on March 16, 2026, in Akungba-Akoko.
Boboye said the defendant was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his possession of the phones, leading to the charges against him.
The offences were brought under Section 430 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Volume I, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
However, Tajudeen reportedly told the court that his actions were linked to a spiritual struggle, insisting that he did not deliberately engage in stealing.
In his judgment, Magistrate Kolapo Kolawole sentenced him to three full calendar years in prison on the theft charge and three months for unlawful possession of the other phones.
