A 28-year-old man Sunday Oboh on Monday told a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Igbosere that he stole a pair of briefs and several bars of medicated soap from a shopping mall in Lekki to take care of his wife and their newborn son.
Oboh, from Delta State, was employed as a contract security guard and posted to a high end shopping mall, SPAR, in Lekki.
He was making his way out of the store’s premises at about 9:18pm on February 10, when he was discovered to be in possession of several bars of soap.
He couldn’t give a reasonable explanation for the items to the other guards on duty and, when a body search was carried out, it was found that the very pant Oboh was putting on that night was also stolen from the store.
Oboh was handed over to the police who arraigned him on Monday before Magistrate O. H. Olagbade (Miss) on a one count charge of stealing.
Prosecuting Sergeant Ishola Samuel informed the court that Oboh stole six bars of Dettol soap, several bars of Tetmosol soap, and a white pant valued at N1,650. All of the items were valued at N2,460.
He added that the offence was contrary to Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendant elected for summary trial and pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him in English.
He begged for forgiveness and told the court that it was lack of money to take care of his family that pushed him to steal.
“I am a contract security guard and I have not been paid for three months,” Oboh said.
“My wife just gave birth and I have no money to provide for her and our baby. So, I stole those things to take care of them.”
He agreed to pay for the goods and this was done in open court.
A representative of Oboh’s security firm, who were complainants in the matter, informed the court that they would abide by whatever the court decided.
Magistrate Olagbade noted that although Oboh’s financial and family situation was no excuse before the law, he had already suffered for four days in detention before being arraigned.
She also noted that complainant and prosecution were not averse to a speedy resolution of the matter.
“As the defendant has paid for the goods and the prosecution asks that the case be struck out, I hereby discharge the defendant,” Miss Olagbade said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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you are a fool for ur excuse
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