An Osun State Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osogbo, the state capital, has sentenced a 35-year-old aluminum worker, Sunday Ejoh, to six months imprisonment for stealing three tubers of yam.
The court, presided over by Magistrate M. Olatunji, found Ejoh guilty of the theft, a crime he claimed was motivated by hunger and hardship.
The case, which was prosecuted by Mr. Jacob Akintunde, revealed that on September 22, 2024, Ejoh unlawfully took the tubers of yam, valued at approximately N3,000, from Oluwole Durojaye, a resident of the area.
According to the prosecutor, Ejoh not only stole the yams but was also found in possession of a cutlass and a pair of slippers, which were presented as evidence in court.
The charge against Ejoh was filed under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, Nigeria, 2002.
In his defense, Ejoh, who had no legal representation, admitted to the crime, pleading guilty before the court.
He explained that extreme poverty and hunger led him to commit the offense, as he struggled to provide for himself and his family. “I was hungry, and I have a family to feed,” he lamented.
During the trial, Magistrate Olatunji took Ejoh’s plea into consideration but emphasised that the law must take its course to serve as a deterrent to others.
He, therefore, sentenced Ejoh to six months imprisonment but offered an alternative fine of N25,000.
The magistrate also ruled that the stolen tubers of yam be returned to the rightful owner, Oluwole Durojaye.
The case sheds light on the growing issue of petty theft in Nigeria, often linked to the increasing economic hardship faced by many citizens.
Ejoh’s admission of stealing out of hunger reflects the desperation among low-income earners and the unemployed, many of whom have been pushed to the brink by the country’s current economic crisis.
Reacting to the judgment, some residents of Osogbo who were present in court expressed sympathy for Ejoh, citing the harsh economic realities many Nigerians are currently grappling with.
However, they also acknowledged the need for legal consequences to maintain social order.
As economic hardship deepens across the country, there has been an uptick in minor offences related to theft and burglary.
Many attribute the rising crime rates to inflation, unemployment, and food insecurity, which have left vulnerable populations struggling to survive.
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