A Lagos Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a one-chance driver, Valentino Andrew, to 12 years imprisonment for theft and conspiracy.
He committed the offence sometime in 2020 while operating a one-chance syndicate along the Lekki-Epe to Iyana Oworo corridor of Lagos State.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe found him guilty of the charges after he pleaded guilty to the three counts in the amended charge filed against him by the State government.
Valentino entered a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution and was therefore re-arraigned on an amended three-count charge.
His offences involve theft, conspiracy to commit a felony, and demand by menace.
He was initially arraigned alongside two others, Michael Idoko and Onwudiwe Tony, before Justice Abike-Fadipe on charges bordering on armed robbery.
The trio had pleaded not guilty during their initial arraignment.
However, Valentino later opted for a plea bargain and was re-arraigned on the amended charges, to which he pleaded guilty.
In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe questioned the defendant to confirm whether his decision to enter the plea bargain was made under duress, threat, or inducement. Valentino responded negatively, affirming that he acted voluntarily.
The judge noted that while plea bargains are recognised under the law, the court is not bound to accept the terms of such agreements. Nevertheless, having reviewed the facts and the defendant’s admission, the court found him guilty on all three counts.
Justice Abike-Fadipe sentenced Valentino to 12 years imprisonment on each of the three counts, to run concurrently. She ordered that the sentence start from June 2020, the date of his initial remand.
The court also directed that the convict’s name be properly recorded at the correctional centre as “Valentino Andrew,” consistent with his official identity.
Following the conclusion of Valentino’s case, the prosecution counsel, J. Ogunode, requested the continuation of trial for the remaining two defendants.
The court subsequently adjourned their case to October 7, 2025, for trial continuation.
