An Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Samuel Douglass, to 12 months in prison for stealing four baskets of fresh tomatoes worth N140,000.
Douglass was brought before Magistrate Olusola Olujobi by the police on a one-count charge of stealing.
Prosecutor Taiwo Oniyere told the court that the offence happened in July 2026, around 6:00 a.m., at Fourth Gate, Afunbiowo Estate, Akure.
The court heard that Abimbola Akintomide gave Douglass four baskets of fresh tomatoes to deliver to a driver at Ilesa Garage. Instead, he allegedly sold the tomatoes and used the money for himself.
Oniyere said the tomatoes were valued at N140,000 and that the offence contravened Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Douglass pleaded guilty.
His lawyer, Adeluyi Segun, asked the court for leniency, describing him as a first-time offender and requesting an option of a fine.
Magistrate Olujobi sentenced him to 12 months in prison and ordered him to refund N140,000 to the complainant. Failure to pay the money would mean serving the jail term.
