It was a terrible Thursday morning for a 50-year-old man who was docked by an Ojo Magistrates’ court for stealing a carton of milo valued N8, 000.
James Akpan, a messenger at the Balogun plaza, Trade Fair Complex Lagos, had pleaded guilty before the court, to a charge of stealing.
The Magistrate, Mr T.O Shomade convicted the accused of the offence following his plea.
“The accused had pleaded guilty before this honourable court and is hereby convicted as charged” Shomade pronounced.
Akpan was however given an opportunity by the Magistrate, to plead for a mitigation of his sentence.
“I was sent by one Uche to remove the Milo from the park where it was been off loaded.
“He said that we would share it and take it home to our families for use during breafast.
“Please sir, I am not a thief, I was pushed into this act because of hunger. I will never try it again in my life, please forgive me,” Akpan pleaded.
He was thereby sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.
“The accused is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment, or in the alternative, to pay a fine of N20, 000 to the Lagos State Government. Shomade said.
The prosecutor ASP. Friday Eze told the court that the accused who resides at No. 147 Ojo Igbede road, committed the offence on Sept. 14 at about 2pm at the Trade Fair Complex Lagos.
He said that the accused had removed the carton of Milo from the park where one Mrs Yinka Ibikunle was offloading her goods.
Eze said that the accused was caught by the complainant when he attempted to escape with the goods.
He said that the accused was then taken to the trade fair police station where he claimed he was cajoled by one Uche to steal the Milo.
The prosecutor told the court that all effort to arrest Uche failed as he was now on the run.
He said that the offence contravened section 285 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State.
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