A magistrates’ court in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Friday, sentenced a mother and daughter, Falilatu Amidu and Ayisatu Amidu, to six months’ imprisonment each for stealing dry ponmo (cow skin), stock fish and dried meat valued at N1 million.

The defendants, who reside at No. 21 Ago-oko area in Abeokuta, Ogun, were convicted on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The magistrate, O.O. Odumosu, held that all evidence presented by the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts were guilty of the offence as charged.

Ms Odumosu sentenced both the mother and daughter to six months’ imprisonment, each with an option of a N5,000 fine.

She ordered that the convicts should refund N100,000 each to the complainant as restitution before accessing the N5,000 fine given.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Kehinde Fawunmi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime in August 2024 at Lafenwa market.

Mr Fawunmi explained that Ms Falitatu conspired with her daughter, Ms Ayisatu, to steal a big sack containing stockfish, dry ponmo and dry meat valued at N1 million belonging to one Kafayat Alao.

According to him, Ms Falilatu used to help the complainant carry loads from her store in Lafenwa to where the latter sells her items.

“The complainant asked her to help her pick goods from the store; she waited for over an hour, and she did not see the defendant, which made her go to the store to check on her.

“On getting to the store, she did not find Falilatu, and she noticed a big bag containing dried meat, ponmo, and stockfish was missing, and the defendant was nowhere to be found,” he said.

Mr Fawunmi explained that Ms Falilatu stole the goods and gave them to the daughter (Ayisatu) to sell them.

He said Ms Ayisatu received the goods from her mother, knowing that they were stolen.

The prosecutor noted that the offence contravened sections 516, 390(9) and 127 of Ogun’s Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.

(NAN)