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 valued at N140,000.
Douglass was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of stealing before Magistrate Olusola Olujobi and pleaded guilty.
The prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in July 2026 at Fourth Gate, Afunbiowo Estate, Akure.
Oniyere said Douglass stole the tomatoes belonging to his employer, Abimbola Akintomide, after he was instructed to deliver them to a driver at Ilesa Garage. He allegedly sold the produce and converted the proceeds to his personal use.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Defence counsel, Adeluyi Segun, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, describing Douglass as a young first-time offender and requesting 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.
The court ordered that failure to pay the money would result in the defendant serving the jail term.
