By Ado Oyeyemi
An Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Samuel Douglass, to 12 months’ imprisonment for stealing four baskets of fresh tomatoes worth N140,000.
Douglass was arraigned before Magistrate Olusola Olujobi on a one-count charge of stealing.
The prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in July 2026 at about 6am at Fourth Gate, Afunbiowo Estate, Akure, within the Akure Magisterial District.
According to Oniyere, Douglass stole the four baskets of tomatoes belonging to his employer, Abimbola Akintomide.
The prosecutor said the complainant had directed the defendant to deliver the produce to a driver at Ilesa Garage, but Douglass allegedly sold the tomatoes and converted the proceeds to his personal use.
Oniyere told the court that the offence contravened Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Counsel to the defendant, Adeluyi Segun, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, describing Douglass as a young man and first-time offender.
The defence lawyer also pleaded with the court to consider an option of fine.
In his ruling, Magistrate Olujobi sentenced Douglass to 12 months in prison and ordered him to pay N140,000 to the complainant.
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The court ruled that failure to pay the N140,000 would result in the defendant serving the prison sentence.
