An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State has sentenced a mother and her daughter to six months in prison for stealing stockfish, dried ponmo (cow skin), and dried meat worth ₦1 million.
The convicts, Falilatu Amidu and Ayisatu Amidu, were found guilty of conspiracy and theft after they stole the goods from a trader at Lafenwa Market. Magistrate O. Odumosu ruled that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Delivering the judgment on Friday, Magistrate Odumosu sentenced both women to six months in prison. However, she gave them the option to pay a ₦5,000 fine each. She also ordered them to refund ₦100,000 each to the complainant, Mrs. Kafayat Alao, before they could access the fine option.
How They Stole the Goods
Prosecutor Inspector Kehinde Fawunmi told the court that the crime occurred in August 2024 at Lafenwa Market. According to him, Falilatu, who worked as a helper for the victim, took advantage of her position to steal the goods.
“The complainant asked Falilatu to help her pick goods from her store. She waited for over an hour but didn’t see her return. This made her go to the store to check,” Fawunmi said.
When Mrs. Alao got to the store, she discovered that a big sack containing dried meat, ponmo, and stockfish was missing, and Falilatu was nowhere to be found.
Further investigation revealed that Falilatu had given the stolen goods to her daughter, Ayisatu, to sell. “Ayisatu received the goods from her mother knowing they were stolen,” the prosecutor added.
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Reactions to the Sentence
The case has drawn mixed reactions from members of the public. While some believe the punishment is fair, others feel the fine is too low considering the value of the stolen goods.
A market trader, who spoke anonymously, said, “They stole goods worth ₦1 million, and they only have to pay ₦5,000 each to avoid prison? This is not fair.”
Another trader, Mrs. Adebayo, said, “Stealing from fellow traders is a serious crime. This will serve as a lesson to others.”
The mother and daughter were convicted under sections 516, 390(9), and 127 of the Ogun State Criminal Code Laws of 2006.