An Osogbo High Court of Justice presided over by Justice Oyejide Falola has sentenced a 31- year-old man, Kelvin Igha Ighodalo to 45 years imprisonment without an option of fine for stealing a phone valued at N50,000 belonging to Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, during his swearing in ceremony in 2010.

Osun state correspondent who was at osogbo high court reports that, the accused, who faced six count charge was subsequently sentenced to ten years each for the first three count charges, and also bagged five years jail term for each of the last three count. But the 45 years jail term for the six counts will run concurrently.
                                          
The convict was said to have committed the offence on the 27th of November, 2010 during the swearing ceremony of Governor Aregbesola held at government technical college sport grounds osogbo.

Kelvin who stood trial on six count charge of Conspiracy, Obtaining properties by false, Stealing, Impersonation and advanced fee fraud however, pleaded guilty to the charges slammed against him when the charges was read to him.

According to the charge sheet, Kelvin and others now at large on May 24th, 2011 impersonated the governor by using his phone with intent to defraud and obtain the sum of N500,000 from his royal majesty Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolara, the  Owa-Obokun of Ijesha land.Similarly, impersonating Aregbesola, the convict also accosted one Shenge Rahman and having defrauded him of a sum of N200,000, he later met his waterloo while furthering the mischievous act.

Counsel to the convict Mr. Ameachi Ngwu prayed the court to commit the convict to community service, stressing that the convict should not be incarcerated but rather be placed where people can see him as a convict.

From Folounsho Adeniyi Adeshina