An Isolo magistrate court has sentenced a 47-year old man, Godwin Emeka to four hours of community service in the magistrate court for stealing eight cans of Titus sardines valued 230 naira each and one Butter Short Bread valued 850 naira, a property of Super Savers supermarket in Ajao estate.
Emeka who pleaded guilty to the charges begged the court to forgive him and for leniency saying it is spiritual.
The prosecutor, Inspector Oje Oagbale who read the charge sheet stated that the offence is punishable under section 287 of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015.
According to Emeka, “I am an asthma patient, it is spiritual. Can you imagine a 47-year old man like me with four children between ages 6-17 stealing? Let me give you my sister’s number to call and confirm from her that this is spiritual because she knows. There is somebody manipulating me,” he said.
The magistrate O.A Teluwo dismissed his plea on account of spirituality, stating that it wasn’t factual, as the law deals with facts and evidence.
Speaking to Community Bell, Mr. Debo Adeyemi, the chief security officer of Super Savers super market Ajao Estate, where the items were stolen said Emeka stole twice from their store that day.
“The first time was in the morning but he wasn’t caught. Not until he came back the second time in the afternoon, that the store manager noticed him on the CCTV picking items off the shelves and stuffing them in his pockets and underneath his shirt”
The stolen items were recovered from him by the security and he was thereafter handed over to the police. Emeka who is a resident at No 8, Asa-Afariogun street, Ajao Estate was sentenced to four hours community service by the magistrate
Stories by Amaka Okemadu
