A Bayelsa High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced a teenage cultist, Owei Mathew, 20 years old, to 20 years in prison over attempted robbery, cause of grievous harm and unlawful possession of firearm.
The accused, who was arrested in September, 2021 while 18 years old and was reported to have jumped into the home of Festus Ezegwe at the back of Obele by Melford Okilo road and stole a Samsung Android Phone with the sum of N55,000. He was charged to court and remanded in custody.
The owner of the house, Festus Ezegwe and his wife, struggled with the accused while trying to escape and called the men of the Anti-kidnapping squad led by CSP Nsimo Benson. The accused was arrested in possession of firearm.
It was gathered that after a diligent investigation and prosecution by the Bayelsa State Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), he was arraigned before Justice Abasi on four count charge of Attempted robbery, grievous harm, cultism and unlawful possession of firearm.
He pleaded not guilty and was sentence to 20 years for unlawful possession of fire arms. The sentence will serve concurrently.