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 tomatoes valued at N140,000.
Magistrate Olusola Olujobi handed down the sentence after Douglass pleaded guilty to stealing the tomatoes, which he was expected to deliver to another person but allegedly sold and kept the proceeds.
During proceedings on Monday, the prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that the offence was committed in July 2026 at about 6am at Fourth Gate, Afunbiowo Estate, Akure, within the Akure Magisterial District.
Oniyere said the tomatoes belonged to Douglass’ employer, Abimbola Akintomide, who had entrusted the produce to him for delivery to a driver at Ilesa Garage.
The prosecutor said Douglass failed to carry out the assignment and instead disposed of the four baskets, valued at N140,000.
He said the act amounted to stealing under Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him, while his counsel, Adeluyi Segun, pleaded with the court for leniency.
Adeluyi urged the magistrate to consider his client’s age and status as a first-time offender, asking the court to impose a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
After considering the evidence before the court, Olujobi sentenced Douglass to one year in prison and ordered him to pay N140,000 to the complainant.
The magistrate ruled that failure to make the payment would result in Douglass serving the prison term.