An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 45-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Shola Oniyide, to two years imprisonment for stealing mortar and pestle and other items valued at N 14,000.
Oniyide was not given an option of fine.
Magistrate Idowu Olayinka, who gave the judgment, said Oniyide would serve the two years?with hard labour.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict, whose address is unknown, was not represented by a lawyer.
Oniyide had pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of house breaking and stealing.
He told the court:“My Lord, please have mercy on me. I have a wound on my back and anytime I scratch it I find myself stealing.”
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini, said the offences were committed on Dec. 21, 2012 at 1.30 a.m. at Isaga-Orile in Abeokuta, Ogun capital.
According to him, Oniyide broke into the house of one Paul Olusegun and stole items such as a mortal, a pestle, a small Tiger generator and a DVD player all valued at N 14,000.
Ozimini said the offences contravened Sections 383, 390 (9) and 411 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. (NAN)