Falana slams jail term for hungry man who stole yam

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has faulted the three-year jail term handed to a 28-year-old auto mechanic, Akeem Jimoh, for stealing 17 tubers of yam worth N35,000 in Osun State.

Jimoh was convicted on Wednesday by an Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court after he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of theft. He told the court he only stole the yam out of hunger and begged for mercy.

But Chief Magistrate Muibah Olatunji showed no leniency, slamming him with a three-year sentence with hard labour and no option of fine.

Reacting, Falana described the judgment as inhumane and wasteful.

“It is high time that the sentencing policy of the country was made humane. Why should the government waste scarce public funds on feeding and accommodating a convict jailed for stealing food worth N35,000?” Falana asked.

The Senior Advocate further argued that in other countries, stealing food out of hunger is no longer treated as a crime.

He confirmed that his team had already filed an appeal to challenge both the conviction and the jail term.