Asaba High Court Hands Down 2-Year Jail Term Judgement to a Vandal

By Isharo Odafe

The High Court of Delta State sitting in Asaba has sentenced one Emmanuel Sunday to two years imprisonment without an option of fine for vandalizing government property.

The judgment was handed down by Hon. Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro of High Court 5, Asaba, following Emmanuel Sunday’s guilty plea to two counts bordering on vandalism and intent to steal. 

He was found guilty of damaging a section of the drainage system attached to the newly constructed Ebu Bridge along the Asaba–Ughelli expressway.

The Judge held that the two-year jail term imposed on the convict for each count would run concurrently, and that one year is to be served in prison, while the remaining one year will be served as a non-custodial sentence. 

The Judge also held that the non-custodial sentence required the convict to perform community service by 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 reinforced the State Government’s resolve to prosecute offenders who vandalized public infrastructure.

According to the Attorney-General, the arrest of the convict was made possible 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.

Also commenting on the judgment, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, reiterated government’s zero-tolerance policy on vandalism of public infrastructure.

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