Man convicted for stealing maggi cubes, other items to use for his father’s burial

An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a businessman, Peter Raymond, to 180 minutes of community service for stealing some items, including Maggi cubes, for his father’s burial.

The magistrate, Mrs Oluwadamilola Olanipekun, convicted Raymond, 42, after he pleaded guilty to the three-count charge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Raymond pleaded not guilty during arraignment on March 13 but changed his plea on April 11.

Olanipekun said that the community service would be within the court premises, under the supervision of Mr Idowu Oladejo, a community service supervisor in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

The magistrate ordered that the stolen items be returned to their owners immediately in cases where the owners were established.

She said that the others items would be kept in the custody of the court for 30 days, and given to the Remand Home, Iyara, Oregun, Lagos, if the owners were not found within the period

Raymond, who resides at 22, Odutan St., Badagry, Lagos State, admitted stealing some items for the burial of his father.

“I needed to print my late father’s name and picture on clothes but I didn’t have enough money,’’ he said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Donjor Perezi, submitted that Raymond committed the offence on March 12 on Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

Perezi said that the accused stole four packets of Maggi cubes valued N10,000 from the De Grace Supermarket at 408, Ikorodu Rd., Ojota, Lagos, and a DVD player worth N24,000 from the CCD Supermarket, Ogudu, Ojota.

“The accused later proceeded to Shop 316, Odua Model Market located on the Ikorodu Road, Ojota, and stole 13 clothes valued at N39,000.

“He also stole a pair sandals valued at N20,000 from the Tobitte Fashion Nig. Ltd., Ojota, on the same day,” Perezi said.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 285 of Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

(NAN)