An Iyaganku Senior Magistrates' Court sitting at Iyaganku on Tuesday sentenced a scavenger, Saudiq Olatunji, 18, to 23 days imprisonment for stealing 56 pieces of casted iron rods from an uncompleted building.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs. Patricia Adetuyibi, who handed down the judgment, said Olatunji should serve the term with hard labour.

Adetuyibi said that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to other scavengers who steal in the guise of scavenging.

Olatunji was arraigned before the magistrate on a one-count charge of stealing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict was arraigned on July 22 and had pleaded not guilty to the crime.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Oluseye Oyebanji, told the court that Olatunji stole the iron rods valued at N30, 000 and belonging to one Dauda Olanrewaju of Akinyemi area, Ibadan.

Oyebanji said that the convict later pleaded guilty to the offence on Aug.5.

“Olatunji confessed to the offence of jumping the fence and entering an uncompleted building where he stole 56 pieces of casted iron rods.”

Oyebanji said the offence contravened Section 390 (4c) of the Criminal Code Cap.38, Vol.11, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)