An artisan – Sunday Ejoh – who specialized in aluminium fabrication, has been sentenced to six months in prison for stealing three tubers of yam valued at N3,000.
The convict, who hails from Okinni in Osun State, was sentenced by an Osun State Chief Magistrate Court in Osogbo.
The court presided over by Magistrate M. Olatunji found Ejoh guilty of theft, which is punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Law of Osun State, Nigeria, 2002.
The prosecutor, Jacob Akintunde, presented the facts of the case, stating that Ejoh stole the yams on September 22, 2024, from Oluwole Durojaye.
In addition to the stolen yams, a cutlass and a pair of slippers were also recovered from the defendant.
The artisan, who had no legal representation, pleaded guilty, claiming that hunger pushed him into committing the crime.
He told the court: “I was hungry, and I have a family.”
Delivering judgment on the matter, Magistrate Olatunji found the defendant guilty and subsequently sentenced him to “six months’ imprisonment with an option of N25,000 fine.”
Olatunji also directed that the stolen yam be returned to the owner.