Drama As Ex-Convict Escapes Courtroom Momentarily in Ibadan, Judge Takes Action

Drama As Ex-Convict Escapes Courtroom Momentarily in Ibadan, Judge Takes Action

  • Abubakar Bello, a young ex-convict, caused a stir at the Mapo chief magistrate’s court in Ibadan when he briefly escaped custody but was quickly apprehended
  • He was dragged to court for alleged conspiracy and theft, but after his rearrest, the magistrate sentenced him to three years in prison for stealing electrical cables worth N3.5 million
  • The police prosecutor, Insp. Oluseye Akinola, confirmed and shared further details on the development

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Oyo state, Ibadan - On Tuesday, December 3, Abubakar Bello, a 23-year-old ex-convict, briefly escaped from the Mapo chief magistrate’s court in Ibadan, while awaiting another sentencing.

He was quickly apprehended by the police and military personnel who threatened to shoot him.

Escaped convict caught and arrested in Ibadan
Ex-convict escapes the courtroom momentarily in Ibadan. Image for illustration purposes. Photo credit: Federal High Court of Nigeria
Source: Facebook

Following his rearrest, the magistrate, Mrs. O.O. Latunji, sentenced Bello to three years of imprisonment for each of two offences, conspiracy and stealing, without the option of a fine.

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The magistrate said the sentences will run concurrently.

Court's action explained

Vanguard reported that Latunji said she convicted and sentenced Bello based on the overwhelming evidence tendered against him by the police as well as his confessional statement.

According to the magistrate, she took note of the fact that pleading guilty to an offence should be accorded a reduced sentence.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Oluseye Akinola, said the convict stole electrical cables worth N3.5 million from a filling station at Odo-Ona Kekere in Ibadan on October 28, 2024.

He noted that it was not the first time the convict would be leading his gang to steal from the filling station.

“Other members of his gang are now at large,” he said.

Read more about court stories here:

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Mother faints as police nab son for stealing cable

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Sulaiman Abubakar, a 14-year-old boy, was arrested at Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan for allegedly stealing cable wire valued at approximately N300,000.

Abubakar reportedly entered the stadium during a training session of the Shooting Star Football Club and confessed to sleeping there overnight after security had locked the entrances.

In a surprising twist, the mother of the student reportedly fainted as Abubakar was handed over to the police for further investigation.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.