Mr Adisa Ojo , a 20-year-old unemployed man on Wednesday confessed to stealing a truck battery valued at N65,000 when he was brought before an Ajegunle-Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko, however, remanded Ojo at the Kirikiri Prison pending his sentence at the next date of adjournment fixed for September 16 2019.
The defendant, whose residential address is unknown, is being tried for stealing.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan, the defendant committed the offence on September 7 at Shehu Bus Stop, Ago Palace Way, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
Aigbokhan said that the defendant stole a black Indigo 205 amp truck battery valued at N65, 000, a property of Port Express Cargo Terminal.
“The defendant removed the battery from a vehicle and mounted a motorcycle to leave with it.
“On his way, Dada Ayeni, an OPC member, also a security guard at Ago Palace Way, Shehu Bus Stop, sighted the defendant mounting a bike with the battery and stopped him.
“The defendant confessed to have stolen the battery and said he always come to the area to steal batteries.
“He also confessed to have stolen up to seven batteries since he started the business and resells them at Alakija Bus Stop to someone called Usman,” the prosecutor said.
He said that the defendant, when handed over to the Festac Police Station, also confessed the same thing to them.
The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section carries three years imprisonment for stealing.
Do you think his being unemployed is an excuse for theft ?