Olayiwola Ishola, a security man in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has said that the economic difficulty in Nigeria is responsible for his decision to break into a shop and steal goods worth N448,000.
Ishola was put on trial before a federal high court situated in Osogbo on one count of housebreaking and robbery.
The charge sheet noted that the inmate, being a security man who is charged with the responsibility of securing properties at Keystone Bank Axis, Osogbo, “did illegally break into the shop of Yusuff Kazeem (Deji ‘m’), and stole clothes, belts, trousers, and boxers valued at N448,000 and thereby committed a crime contrary to and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap “C38″ Vol.IV Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”
The offender, who had no legal representation, confessed to being guilty of the charge and was locked up in the Ilesa prison.
When his trial came up on Thursday, February 29, he implored the court to be merciful with him, noting that the economic difficulty in the country propelled him to the crime because his salary was poor to cater for his family needs.
Justice Mashkur Salisu, who considered the request of lenity in line with the provision of Sections 416 & 460 ACJA 2015 and dependants of the convict, thereby imposed a sentence on him to be remanded in prison for 15 months.
