Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has strongly criticised the three-year prison sentence handed to a 28-year-old auto mechanic, Akeem Jimoh, who was convicted of stealing 17 tubers of yam valued at N35,000 in Osun State.
Jimoh was arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court
on Wednesday, where he admitted to the offence and pleaded for mercy,
explaining that he acted out of hunger.
However, the presiding magistrate, Muibah Olatunji, ruled
against leniency and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment with hard
labour, without the option of a fine.
Reacting to the judgment, Falana described the ruling as
both “inhumane and economically wasteful.”
“It is high time Nigeria adopted a humane sentencing policy.
How does it make sense for the government to spend taxpayers’ money feeding and
housing a convict jailed for stealing food items worth N35,000?” He queried.
The Senior Advocate also noted that in many other
jurisdictions, thefts committed as a result of hunger are no longer treated as
criminal offences, but addressed through social welfare systems.
He confirmed that his legal team had already filed an appeal
challenging both the conviction and the sentence.
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