- Falana condemns harsh jail term
- Urgent reform of Nigeria’s sentencing policy
- Move to appeal Akeem Jimoh’s conviction
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has strongly condemned the three-year prison sentence of Akeem Jimoh, a 28-year-old auto mechanic from Osun State.
A Chief Magistrate Court in Osogbo convicted Jimoh for stealing 17 tubers of yams worth just ₦35,000. The presiding Magistrate, Muibah Olatunji, sentenced him to three years with hard labor and no option of a fine, Eko Hot Blog reports.
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Jimoh pleaded guilty to the theft, telling the court that he committed the act because of hunger. He asked for leniency, but the court did not grant his request.
In response, Falana issued a statement to a news outlet, arguing that Nigeria’s sentencing policy needs a review to become more humane.
He questioned why the government should waste limited public funds on feeding, housing, and providing medical care for someone jailed for a minor offense.
Falana emphasized that in many countries, judicial officers recognize that poverty can lead a person to steal food to survive. He announced that he has already briefed a lawyer who will file an appeal against both the conviction and the three-year jail term.
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