A mild drama unfolded at the Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday when James Bassey, the nominal complainant, broke down in tears, pleading for leniency on behalf of the convict, a dry cleaner identified as Puis Savoir.
News About Nigeria understands that the dry cleaner had been sentenced to one month in prison for stealing a pressing iron and N20,000.
Chief Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya convicted Mr. Savoir after he pleaded guilty and the case facts were presented.
The prosecutor, Ikem Uko, explained that the offence took place on July 6 at Yeponnawa Str. Church-Gate in Lagos, where the defendant stole a pressing iron and N20,000 from Mr. Bassey, the complainant. The offence was found to contravene Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
Recognizing Mr. Savoir as a first-time offender, Chief Magistrate Adekomaiya opted for a lenient sentence.
The convict was sentenced to one-month imprisonment, with the initial seven days to be served in prison, and the remaining three weeks to be spent at the Morogbo Police Station, where he would report daily for community service.
Immediately after the sentence was passed, Mr. Bassey burst into tears and passionately pleaded for the convict’s pardon.
He emotionally explained to the court that Mr. Savoir had been taking care of him, assisting with domestic work and providing massages. Despite the thefts committed by the defendant, Mr. Bassey expressed concern for his own well-being, as he heavily relied on Mr. Savoir’s help.
“My Lord, I don’t have a wife or children; it is this convict that always takes care of me. He used to help me do all my domestic work and massage me, but the habit of stealing my things is too much, that is why I reported him when he stole my money and pressing iron. If you sentence him to prison now, nobody will be assisting me, and this could lead to my death,” he said.
In a related news development, an 18-year-old student named Abubakar Adam has been sentenced to nine months in jail for stealing a smartphone valued at N85,000.
The ruling was handed down by an Area Court in Jos, Plateau State. The complainant, Habizu Hassan, reported the case on February 20 at the “C” Police Divisional office in Plateau.
According to the prosecutor, Ibrahim Gokwat, Mr. Adam unlawfully entered the complainant’s room and stole his Samsung phone, subsequently selling it to Abdullahi Gambo for N13,000.
After a summary trial, presiding Judge Shawomi Bokkos found the defendant guilty based on his plea and convicted him.
Judge Bokkos offered Mr. Adam the option of paying a N10,000 fine, in addition to ordering him to pay N100,000 as compensation to the complainant. The judge emphasized that the verdict served as a deterrent to potential offenders.
