Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has criticised the three-year prison sentence imposed on a 28-year-old auto mechanic, Akeem Jimoh, who was convicted for stealing 17 tubers of yam worth N35,000 in Osun State.

Jimoh was arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court, where he confessed to the theft and pleaded for mercy, stating that hunger drove him to commit the act. Despite his plea, Magistrate Muibah Olatunji sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine.

Reacting to the ruling, Falana described the judgment as “inhumane and economically wasteful.”

“It is high time Nigeria embraced a humane sentencing policy. How does it make sense for government to spend taxpayers’ money feeding and accommodating a convict imprisoned for stealing food items valued at N35,000?” he asked.

The Senior Advocate further noted that in several other countries, cases of theft committed due to hunger are no longer criminalised but rather addressed through social welfare programmes.

He also confirmed that his legal team has filed an appeal challenging both the conviction and the sentence.