Akure court sentences 26-year-old to 12 months for stealing tomatoes

The Akure Magistrates Court in Ondo State has handed a 12-month prison term to Samuel Douglass, 26, after he was convicted of stealing four baskets of fresh tomatoes worth N140,000. Douglass had been brought before Magistrate Olusola Olujobi by the police on a single charge of stealing. Prosecutor Taiwo Oniyere informed the court that the incident occurred in July 2026 at about 6:00am at Fourth Gate, Afunbiowo Estate, Akure, within the Akure Magisterial District. According to Oniyere, the tomatoes belonged to Douglass's employer, Abimbola Akintomide. The complainant had told Douglass to hand over the produce to a driver at Ilesa Garage, but the defendant allegedly sold the tomatoes and used the money for himself, the prosecutor said. The prosecutor stated that the offence violated Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. Douglass entered a guilty plea. His lawyer, Adeluyi Segun, asked the court to show leniency, noting that the defendant was a young man and a first-time offender. He also requested that the court grant Douglass an option of a fine. In his decision, Magistrate Olujobi sentenced Douglass to 12 months in prison and ordered him to pay N140,000 to the complainant. The court further directed that if the money was not paid, the defendant would serve the jail term.