An Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court yesterday sentenced a 26-year-old man, Okon Happiness, to 14 hours of community service for stealing three tubers of yam valued at N2,100.
The incident occurred at the shop of Mrs. Kehinde Lawanson at Ikotun market.
Okon was arraigned before Magistrate T.O. Shomade on a one-count charge of stealing. He pleaded guilty.
He said he stole the items because he was hungry.
Prosecuting counsel Kenneth Asibor, a Superintendent of Police (SUPOL), said Okon went to the shop and stole the yam tubers.
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He said the defendant was escaping when the owner saw him and shouted; he was caught and handed over to the police at Ikotun Division.
Asibor said the defendant admitted stealing the yam because he had no money.
The prosecutor said the complainant refused all entreaties to settle the matter, insisting that it be charged to court.
The defendant pleaded for leniency, promising not to repeat the act.
Magistrate Shomade convicted him and directed that he would serve his sentence on the court premises.
