A 28-year-old auto mechanic, Akeem Jimoh, has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing 17 tubers of yams worth N35,000 in Osogbo. He pleaded guilty to the charge

A 28-year-old auto mechanic, Akeem Jimoh, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for stealing 17 tubers of yams valued at N35,000, following a ruling by an Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

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Jimoh, who had no legal representation, pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of theft during his arraignment. He told the court that he committed the crime due to hunger and begged for leniency.

According to the charge sheet, the theft occurred around 10:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025, behind Africa Primary School in the Ataoja area of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

“That you, Jimoh Akeem, ‘M’ on July 27, 2025, at about 10:00 p.m. at the back of Africa Primary School, Ataoja Area, Osogbo… did steal 17 tubers of yams valued at the sum of N35,000.00, property of one Tiamiyu Abegunde,” the charge read.

The offence, the court noted, contravenes Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol 2, Laws of Osun State, 2003, which prescribes punishment for stealing.

The police prosecutor, Babatunde Olukokun, revealed that Jimoh had earlier served a three-year jail term after being arrested as a surety for a suspect who jumped bail.

“In his written confessional statement, the defendant admitted to having previously served time for a different case involving a failed surety arrangement,” Olukokun told the court.

Presiding Magistrate, Muibah Olatunji, convicted Jimoh based on his guilty plea and sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine.

Despite his plea for mercy, the magistrate maintained that the punishment was necessary to deter similar offences, especially as the defendant was already a repeat offender.

The sentencing has drawn mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the severity of the punishment for a petty theft driven by hunger, especially amid the country’s ongoing economic hardship.

“Three years for stealing yams because of hunger? This reflects the broken state of our justice and social welfare systems,” one X (formerly Twitter) user posted.

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While Section 390 of the Criminal Code provides for imprisonment for theft, legal experts argue that courts can apply discretion when the motive stems from extreme poverty or necessity.