Unable To Pay N5,000 Fine, Engineering Graduate Opts For 5-Month Jail Term

An Ibadan North-East Magistrate Court has sent a 37 year-old engineering graduate, Segun Moses, to five and a half months in prison for stealing trailer batteries, 30 liters of diesel and a fowl.

In the charge sheet‎ number MNE/1065c/2018, the convict was arraigned with an accomplice, Femi Taiwo, on four counts of conspiracy and stealing.


They were accused of committing the crimes at a mechanic workshop in Elewi-Odo area of Ibadan in February 2018.

The prosecutor, Sunday Ogunremi, told the court that Moses, who was a guard at the workshop, conspired with Taiwo to steal the items.

He said, “The suspect and his accomplice at about 5.30am at a trailer mechanic workshop, Elewi-Odo area of Ibadan, in Ibadan magisterial district where he (Moses) was working as a security man, did conspire together to steal five liters of diesel valued at N3,100‎, property of one Taofeek Akande.

“Also on February 6, 2018 at about 12am in the same place, the suspects stole 25 liters of diesel valued at N5,250, three truck batteries valued at N109,000 properties of Akande.

“Moses on January 30, 2018 at the same address and in the same magisterial district stole one big fowl valued at N3,500 and one guinea fowl valued at N2,500 belonging to Akande.”

The prosecutor added that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 390(9), 390(9) and 390(9) of criminal Code Cap 38, vol II laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

‎In his defence, Moses pleaded guilty to three of the charges preferred against him, while‎ Taiwo pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Moses told the court that he was a graduate of engineering from one of the Nigerian universities, but failure to get a job as an engineer forced him into accepting to work as a security guard at the workshop.

In his ruling, the Magistrate T. Oladiran sentenced him‎ to one month imprisonment for the first count, two and half months for the second count and two months for the fourth count with an option of N5,000 fine.

Moses’ inability to pay the N5,000 fine left him with the option of spending a jail term.

The court however granted Taiwo bail in the sum of N20,000 with two reliable sureties with known addresses.