A 26-year-old man, Sulaityo John, charged with stealing five tubers of sweet potatoes inside a church has been freed by a Grade I Area Court in Kabusa, Abuja.
The defendant had pleaded guilty to the crime, with the excuse that he was hungry when he stole the potatoes.
The judge, Mallam Abubakar Sadiq, while delivering the judgment on Thursday said the court will be lenient on John, “having seen the small quantity of the sweet potatoes involved.”
He continued, “You are, hereby, set free and warned never to commit such an act again.
“Next time if such a criminal charge is brought before the court against you again, serious action will be taken against you.
“You are also henceforth warned never to visit the church premises again.”
Earlier, Mr O.S. Osho, the Prosecution Counsel, said the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.
Osho told the court that the defendant stole the five tubers of sweet potatoes from the church premises.
He explained that during the police investigation, the defendant had confessed to committing the crime.
Meanwhile, a 43-year old man, Femi Ajayi, was on Thursday arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo on alleged dangerous driving.
Ajayi, who pleaded not guilty to the offence, is facing a nine-count charge bordering on dangerous driving, lack of road worthiness, expired driver’s licence and lack of insurance certificate.
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The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Akintunde Jacob, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 14, at about 9:30am at Apoti-area, Ile-Oluji road, Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun.
Jacob said the defendant drove his Howo Sino truck with plate number AKD 380 YE, in a dangerous manner that led to the death of four persons.
“The deceased are Kayode Oladunjoke, Abudu Mariam, Ikuelogbon Tomiwa and Titilayo Adedapo.
“The accident also led to three other persons sustaining severe injuries and are all on admission in an undisclosed hospital,” he said.
The prosecutor said the accident damaged one parked lexus jeep owned by one Agboola Opeyemi.
Jacob said the offence contravened sections 35, 142, 139, 7, 21 (b), 18, 27 of the Road Traffic Act, Vol. 6 Cap 146 and 147 Laws of Osun State, 2002 and section 18 (1) of the Criminal Code vol. VI , Cap 115 Laws of Osun State, 2002.
The defence counsel, K. Adepoju, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.
The Magistrate, A. Odeleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 and two surety each in the like sum.
“The sureties must reside within the court jurisdiction and must present evidence of tax payments and passport sized photographs, attached with an affidavit of means with address of the defendant verified by the police,” Magistrate Odeyemi added.
The case was adjourned to July 3 for hearing.