An Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Samuel Douglass, to 12 months in prison for stealing four baskets of fresh tomatoes worth N140,000.
Douglass was prosecuted by the police on a one-count charge of stealing before Magistrate Olusola Olujobi.
The prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that the offence occurred in July 2026 at about 6:00am at Fourth Gate, Afunbiowo Estate, Akure, within the Akure Magisterial District.
According to Oniyere, Douglass stole four baskets of tomatoes valued at N140,000 belonging to his employer, Abimbola Akintomide.
The court heard that Akintomide had instructed Douglass to deliver the tomatoes to a driver at Ilesa Garage. However, the defendant allegedly sold the produce instead and used the money for his personal needs.
The prosecutor said the offence violated Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Douglass pleaded guilty to the charge.
His lawyer, Adeluyi Segun, asked the court to show leniency, noting that Douglass was a young man and a first-time offender. Counsel also appealed to the court to consider imposing a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
In his ruling, Magistrate Olujobi sentenced Douglass to 12 months’ imprisonment and ordered him to pay N140,000 as compensation to the complainant.
The court further ruled that failure to pay the N140,000 would result in the defendant serving the jail term.
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