Falana faults three-year jail term for man who stole yam

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has condemned the three-year imprisonment of a 28-year-old auto mechanic, Akeem Jimoh, convicted for stealing yam worth N35,000 in Osun State.

Akeem was convicted and sentenced on Wednesday by an Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court after pleading guilty to the one-count charge of theft pressed against him.

Asked why he committed the act, Jimoh told the court that he stole the 17 tubers of yam due to hunger, and pleaded for leniency.

The presiding Magistrate, Muibah Olatunji, sentenced Jimoh to three years in prison with hard labour and without any option of fine. EP333) Reviews: APC

Commenting on the jail term, Falana, in a statement made exclusively to Saturday PUNCH, said the sentencing policy in the country needed to be reviewed to make it more humane.