Judge Imprisons Man Over Theft Of N13.5 Million Pampers

A 26-year-old man, Henry Chinedu, was, on Tuesday, sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for stealing a trailer load of Softcare Pampers worth N13.5 million.

An Ikeja Magistrates' Court, presided over by Magistrate Lateef Owolabi, arrived at the sentencing after finding the convict guilty as charged.

It would be recalled that Chinedu was dragged before the court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and breach of peace.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Owolabi sentenced the convict to one-year imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 for conspiracy, three years imprisonment or N200,000 fine for stealing, and six months imprisonment or N10,000 fine for breach of peace.

While holding that the sentences should run concurrently, Magistrate Owolabi added that the convict should restitute the said items (Softcare Pampers) worth N13.5 million to the complainant, Mr. Okuoromi Ehighamhe.

Magistrate Owolabi who posited that the convict changed his plea from not guilty to guilty during trial, declared that “I have critically evaluated the entire facts presented by the prosecution vis a vis Section 213 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, and I am satisfied with the facts presented by the prosecution.

“They are detailed, cogent, and helpful. The narration by the prosecution supports the charge and is in tandem with the intendments of the law.

“The admission of guilt and confessions of the defendant is direct, positive, and unequivocal.

“This type of offence needs to be curtailed. I am of the view that any punishment devoid of custody sentencing shall be inappropriate.

“There is the strong need to send a firm message to the defendant in particular and the society at large in this regard.”

Before the court's decision, the convicted Chinedu had prayed for leniency, saying that the stolen items had been recovered.

But on his part, the prosecutor, SP Josephine Ikhayere, had explained that the convict, sometime in August 2022, conspired with others at large to steal the goods, contrary to Sections 411, 173, and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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