Fayose’s assistant to spend six months in jail for trespass

Ekiti Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a former Chairman of the Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mr Taye Fasuba, to six months imprisonment for unlawful entry into a parcel of land and malicious damage to property, TOPNAIJA.NG reports.

Senior Magistrate Omolola Akosile, in a judgment delivered on Monday, found Fasuba guilty on two of the three counts preferred against him and sentenced him to six months imprisonment with an option of N20,000 fine on each of the two counts.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Monica Ikebuilo, had told the court that Fasuba, who is also a former Special Assistant to the immediate past governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, on Union Matters, committed the offence on January 14, 2018, at the Moferere area of Ado Ekiti.

Ikebuilo had said Fasuba, on the said date, did unlawfully enter the land, which is in actual and peaceable possession of one Catherine Ashowo, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 81 of the Criminal Code Cap C 16, Vol 1, Law of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

The prosecutor also said the convict maliciously damaged the fence on the property valued at N350,000, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Cap C 16, Law of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

Fasuba was also charged with the offence of conducting himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace at a public place contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap C 16, Vol 1, Law of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the judgment, Akosile held that the defendant ran contrary to the principle of law by entering the land in possession of the complainant and pulling down her fence.

The senior magistrate stated, “On count one, the defendant is found guilty as charged; he is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N20,000 fine. On count two, the defendant is found guilty as charged and is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N20,000 fine.”

He was, however, discharged and acquitted on the third count.

“The prison term is to run concurrently, while the fines are cumulative,” Akosile said.