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Court frees hungry man charged with stealing church potatoes

Mr John was charged with theft and pleaded guilty, saying he was hungry when he stole the potatoes.

• May 25, 2023
Court room used to illustrate the story
Court room used to illustrate the story

On Thursday, a Grade I Area Court in Kabusa, Abuja, freed a 26-year-old man, Sulaityo John, charged with stealing five tubers of sweet potatoes in a church.

Mr John was charged with theft and pleaded guilty, saying he was hungry when he stole the potatoes.

The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, said, “Having seen the small quantity of the sweet potatoes involved, the court will be lenient on you. You are, hereby, set free and warned never to commit such an act again.”

The judge added, “Next time if such a criminal charge is brought before the court against you again, serious action will be taken against you. You are also, henceforth, warned never to visit the church premises again.”

Prosecution counsel, O.S. Osho, told the court that the defendant stole the five tubers of sweet potatoes on the church’s premises and that during a police investigation, the defendant confessed to committing the crime. 

(NAN) 

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