http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/01/23/hungry-man-sent-to-prison-for-stealing-n20-onion/comment-page-1/#comment-184978

A 33-year-old man, Opeyemi Ayomide, has been arrested by the police in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria and later charged before the Ojokoro Magistrate’s Court with stealing onion worth N20.

Ayomide was alleged to have gone inside Oke-Odo market near Iyana Ipaja, Lagos on 14 January this year during the fuel subsidy strike and stole the onion, eggs and a tuber of yam.

When the trader selling the onion, Bala Adamu, accosted him, he was still holding a knife and he forcefully took the onion from Adamu’s table.

The trader raised an alarm and his colleagues apprehended opeyemi who claimed he needed the onion to fry his eggs to eat yam.

But during police investigation, it was discovered that Opeyemi had stolen the yam tuber and egg in the same market in like manner that he had stolen the onion.

P.M. NEWS gathered that Opeyemi gave the same explanation to the police that he did not steal the egg, yam and onion but he was hungry and need to eat.

Police ignored his explanation and charged him to court.

According to the police prosecutor, the offence Opeyemi committed is contrary to sections 285 and 238 of the criminal code laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.

When the charge was read to him, Opeyemi told the court that he did not see himself as a thief.

He said he took the items because he was hungry and he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, admitted him to bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till 10 February, 2012 for mention.

Opeyemi was remanded in prison custody as no one came to stand surety for him.

How sad, when the real criminals are stealing Trillions and are being celebrated.

God have mercy.

Onions Yam and Eggs landed a man in jail when the sellers could have shown mercy on him.

Jonathan supposed to release this man, and give this young man some millions out of his One billion naira feeding allowance.

One man dey chop 1 billion per annum for food, and here is another man being sent to jail because of hunger.

God save us.

Dammit,this guy like better food.Why e no fit fry him egg like that?

abeg move to jokes oh! lmffao

lol,

see what hunger haff caused,

Chei!!! See wetin poverty don cause?

That judge must be crazy. Instead of him to look at the man condition, he was granting him bail of N200000. How can an hungry man of that gravity get N20000? Whereas people that steal billions of Naira are walking freely in the society.

"Surely when the elites among them steal of commit a crime, they pardon them but when the weak ones commit the same offence, they enforce the law and punish them. I swear by Allah, if Fatimah my daughter stole, I would cut her hand"
(By Prophet Muhamed S.A.W)

this is why Shariah cannot be used in the northern part of Nigeria. Those calling for Shariah are just noise makers because most of those big thiefs like IBB, Atiku and co. in the north will face the full wrath of law an ordinary man faces.

The judgement is wrong. he steals because he needs to eat! the law is supposed to berelaxed in this case since the guy was hungry before the stealing

Nigga! Na wah ooo

Noboby arrest police when they estort "shandi" 20naira from motorists on nigerian roads

Police will not see the real thiefs (government officials) stealing national treasury dry and prosecute them

Police cannot face Boko Haram but are swift to trigger against harmless peaceful protesters or children playing football on the streets

Jonathan is eating 1 billion naira food per year while a nigerian is going to jail for stealing yam, egg and onions

The "cabal" as they are called stole 1.3 trillion naira and got national awards
.
.
.
The list is just too long.

I pity this country!

hmmmm, police sef suppose go court na
the #20 extortion wey dem dey take nko?
which section dat one dey ?
Nigeria, good people, black minds, dumb brains

This is a clear case of a "poor man wey steal maggi them go show him face for crime fighter"

Lord have mercy

The guy joined the list of awaiting trail people in prison.

I laughed.

Leave the leaders let them enjoin their loots and the people suffering.

There will be a time when be an armed robber will the be vogue and order of the day for the youth.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, the country would be on siege.

Hiss.

halahala, funny tins

this is what we 're talking about, poor man are hungry only 1 person is using 1 billion for feeding allowance

This is nonsense.It shows that this guy is one of the few people that cant afford a 3 square meal yet jonathan removed subsidy on petrol.When a rich steals,he's sent to 3 months imprisonment but if na poor man,he's sent to life imprisonment.May God bless the chinese for being harsh on thieving politicians.What a crazy shiithole i call a country.

Ha! This one sad oooo! The judge so wicked on the Poor guy.

Eyaaaaaa, e go beta, na oil i dey use chop yam shaaa

[b]food e no dey Oga water no dey. POOR MAN STEAL MAGGI dey go show him face for PRIME FIGHTER, tell me something i Know No.[/B]

Having faulted the judge's ruling, which good samaritan would bail this man out with N20k?

rubbish, there is no sentiments in law. the man is an armed robber who threaten traders with a knife so as to have their goods. hungry r not, the an should be charged with robbery and assault.

Do not judge me based on sentiments but we must use our heads. What we should ask ourselves, is if everyone is hungry and decides to go to a shop and rubs the shop to fill the stomach. What will the entire society turn into?

its a pity,dis just shows d diff btw d have and the havenot in dis nation, bt no mata wat thief na thief wether maggi,#20,onion,chiken or billions of naira.
may god save dis nation

$ammy:

How sad, when the real criminals are stealing Trillions and are being celebrated.

He took advantage of the near anarchy to loot. If this same man had an oppurtunity to gain access to a bank vault or your own house he would have done the same.
Theif nah theif

valacious:

Having faulted the judge's ruling, which good samaritan would bail this man out with N20k?

he did threaten the trader with a knife that makes him an armed robber.
case closed.

~Bluetooth:

This is nonsense.It shows that this guy is one of the few people that cant afford a 3 square meal yet jonathan removed subsidy on petrol.When a rich steals,he's sent to 3 months imprisonment but if na poor man,he's sent to life imprisonment.May God bless the chinese for being harsh on thieving politicians.What a crazy shiithole i call a country.

a large proportion of Nigerians including myself have at one time or still experiencing hardship.Hunger is not an excuse to steal.
If he were a young boy or a child, I would have understood. But here is a 33yr old man stealing food.

anishe:

The judgement is wrong. he steals because he needs to eat! the law is supposed to berelaxed in this case since the guy was hungry before the stealing

how do you know if he was hungry at the time of committing the crime? Oppurtunity makes a theif. this guy is a kleptomaniac. He is the kind of guy that will steal shitt cos he sees it.

In heaven, nigeria government will answer for most of our sins

saintneo:

rubbish, there is no sentiments in law. the man is an armed robber who threaten traders with a knife so as to have their goods. hungry r not, the an should be charged with robbery and assault.

Do not judge me based on sentiments but we must use our heads. What we should ask ourselves, is if everyone is hungry and decides to go to a shop and rubs the shop to fill the stomach. What will the entire society turn into?

You are right but what other posters are saying is "Same punishment should be used on Politicians too based on the magnitude of the money they stole."

lakesider:

In heaven, nigeria government will answer for most of our sins

no nah devil cos am no be nigerian gov.

why are u niggahs so irresponsible? why cant u take responsibilities for ur actions without blaming others for your predicaments?
is there any place on the planet that is descent to live and has a high population of niggaz?
hell no!
niggaz are the worst scourge to aflict the world.

N20?

I do not endorse stealing but aren't there provisions in the law that stipulates the amount (value) of stolen goods that carries if it's misdemeanor or felony? This is a mere misdemeanor with no ill intention, what is Nigeria turning into? Nigerians need to take street justice on all these judges who are partial,

Uncle Bode George stole over N20b and he was given some few months imprisonment.
What a shame?