By Deba Osakwe
A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has sentenced a 28-year-old auto mechanic, Akeem Jimoh, to three years imprisonment for stealing 17 tubers of yam valued at ₦35,000.
The judgment, delivered on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, by Magistrate Muibah Olatunji, came after Jimoh pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of theft.
The Incident
According to the charge sheet presented in court, the crime took place on Friday, July 25, 2025, at about 10 p.m. The convict was accused of stealing the tubers of yam from a farm located behind Africa Primary School in the Ataoja area of Osogbo. The stolen items were reported to belong to a farmer, identified as Mr. Tiamiyu Abegunde.
Jimoh, who had no legal representation, admitted openly in court that he committed the act, adding that he was pushed into it by hunger. “I was very hungry and had nothing to eat,” he reportedly said while pleading for leniency.
Prosecution’s Argument
The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Babatunde Olukokun, told the court that Jimoh, in his confessional statement at the station, revealed he was not new to prison life. The mechanic disclosed that he had previously spent three years behind bars after standing surety for someone who later jumped bail.
Olukokun argued that theft, regardless of the value of the items stolen, should not be overlooked, especially given the rise in petty crimes across the state. He urged the court to deliver a sentence that would serve both as punishment and deterrent to others.
The prosecutor further emphasized that the offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
The Judgment
After listening to the defendant’s plea and the prosecutor’s submission, Magistrate Olatunji noted that Jimoh’s previous record did not help his case. While acknowledging his claim of hunger, the court insisted that stealing was not excusable under the law.
Consequently, the magistrate sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine.
A Pattern of Petty Thefts
The case has sparked conversations about the increasing trend of petty theft cases in Osun State and other parts of Nigeria. In July 2025 alone, two notable convictions were reported in the same jurisdiction.
One involved a man, Adebanjo Segun, who was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing a domestic fowl. Another, Kazeem Tobi, received a six-month jail term for stealing an Elepaq generator worth ₦120,000.
These back-to-back convictions suggest that local courts are tightening their stance on minor theft cases, even when the accused claim to have acted out of necessity.
Poverty and Crime Debate
The ruling has stirred debates among residents and on social media platforms about the relationship between poverty, unemployment, and crime. Many argue that hunger and economic hardship often push individuals into desperate acts, such as stealing food.
While some people believe the punishment handed down to Jimoh was too harsh given the circumstances, others insist that leniency would only encourage lawlessness. “The law must take its course,” a local resident commented, adding that property rights must be respected irrespective of the value of items stolen.
The Bigger Picture
Nigeria continues to grapple with poverty and unemployment, with recent reports showing that millions of citizens live below the poverty line. Petty crimes like the theft of food items, poultry, and household appliances are increasingly becoming common in both urban and rural communities.
Legal experts suggest that while the courts have a duty to uphold the law, alternative measures such as community service or rehabilitation programs may be more effective in handling cases where hunger or economic desperation is the underlying cause.
For Akeem Jimoh, the 28-year-old mechanic, his plea of hunger did not save him from a harsh sentence. He will now spend the next three years in prison, marking his second stint behind bars.
The case once again highlights the tough balance between enforcing the law and addressing the socio-economic realities driving petty theft in Nigeria. As courts continue to take a firm stance, questions remain about whether imprisonment alone can solve a problem that seems deeply rooted in poverty and lack of opportunity.
