In a heart-rending scene at the Badagry Chief Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, James Bassey, the complainant in a theft case, broke down in tears as he pleaded for leniency on behalf of the defendant, Puis Savoir.
The drycleaner had been sentenced to one month in prison for stealing a pressing iron and N20,000.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Patrick Adekomaiya, delivered the conviction after Savoir pleaded guilty and the facts of the case were presented by the prosecutor, Ikem Uko.
The incident occurred on July 6 at around 7:00 p.m. at Yeponnawa Street, Church-Gate, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, Savoir was accused of stealing a pressing iron and N20,000 from James Bassey, the complainant. The act was in violation of Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
Acknowledging that Savoir was a first-time offender, Chief Magistrate Adekomaiya expressed the court's intention to show leniency.
Consequently, the defendant received a sentence of one month imprisonment, with the first seven days to be served in prison and the remaining three weeks at Morogbo Police Station.
During this period, Savoir would report to the police station daily for community service.
However, immediately following the sentencing, James Bassey, overwhelmed with emotion, burst into tears and implored the court to pardon the convicted drycleaner.
"My Lord, I don't have a wife or children; it is this convict that always takes care of me. He used to help me do all my domestic work and massage me, but the habit of stealing my things is too much, that is why I reported him when he stole my money and pressing iron. If you sentence him to prison now, nobody will be assisting me, and this could lead to my death," he said.
