A Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Oke-Ila Orangun in Osun State, on Tuesday, sentenced a 24-year-old man, Samuel John, to 12 months imprisonment for stealing 28 tubers of yam.
John, who is a labourer for a farmer, Adebodun Clement, was accused of stealing the tubers of yam from the farm of Clement on September 24, 2020 at about 5:00pm.
The accused person was said to have forcefully entered the farm located at Idi-Awewe village, Oke-Ila Orangun, alongside one other now at large.
Police prosecutor, ASP Ajayi Matthew, informed the court that the 28 stolen tubers of yam were valued at N50,000, property of Clement, the complainant.
Matthew argued that the labourer committed an offence Contrary to and punishable under Sections 81 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34c, Vol.II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
The accused, who was brought to court by the Police with cuffs on his legs, entered into a guilty plea for the two-count charge preferred against him.
John did not have a lawyer to represent him in court.
The Police prosecutor presented the fact of the case as per the charge sheet tendered before the court while adding that the 25 tubers of yam were recovered from the accused person.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, I. A. Adeniran, found the accused person guilty on the two-count charge and convicted him accordingly.
The convicted labourer begged the court to temper justice with mercy. He said he was frustrated when his boss (Clement) refused to give him the sum of N2,000 he demanded for an urgent trip.
Delivering his judgement, Adeniran sentenced the convict to six months imprisonment for each count, adding that the sentence would run concurrently.
However, the court gave John an option of N5,000 fine on each count. John could not afford the sum of N10,000 for the fine. He was, therefore, taken to Ilesa Correctional Centre to serve his jail term.
The 28 tubers of yam were later returned to the owner.
