Court Jails Man for Vandalising Delta Govt Property, to Clean Court Premises for One Year

Emmanuel Sunday, has been sentence to two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for vandalizing government property by a High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State.

Sunday was arrested and arraigned following a petition brought against him by the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani.

The convict was alleged to have damaged a section of the drainage system attached to the newly constructed Ebu Bridge along the Asaba–Ughelli Expressway.

He, was subsequently sentenced following his guilty plea to the two counts charges bordering on vandalism and intent to steal brought against him.

Hon. Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro of High Court 5, Asaba, who delivered the judgment imposed a two-year jail term on the convict for each count which would run concurrently.

She held that the convict would serve one year in prison, while the remaining one year will be a non-custodial sentence.

Mr. Sunday would serve his non-custodial sentence by performing community service of cleaning the Court premises in Ogwashi-Uku for one year.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the judgment, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, said the case reinforces the State Government’s resolve to prosecute offenders who vandalize public infrastructure.

He said that the convict was arrested after the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, reported the incident to the police.

The Attorney-General further explained that the defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge: willful destruction of public property, punishable under Section 7(1) of the Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Law, 2018, and severing with intent to steal, punishable under Section 395 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C21, Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State, 2006.

He further commended the judiciary and the police for their swift action and encouraged citizens to safeguard state-owned facilities meant for the collective benefit of the public.

In his remarks on the judgment, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy on vandalism of public infrastructure.

“Let this serve as a clear warning: government properties are public assets, not for personal exploitation. Any act of vandalism will be met with the full weight of the law,” he said.