• Convict begs court
By Romanus Okoye
EMOTIONS ran high yesterday a as labourer, Mumuni Ahmed, who was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for stealing a phone, cried out loud for mercy, declaring that he was not a thief and, therefore, should be allowed to go home.
Mumuni, who cried out as he was being led to the Black Maria truck, en route prison, was jailed for stealing a Nokia phone, having been found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and stealing, offences contrary to the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.
The prosecution told the court that Mumuni, from Kogi State, went to the family house of one Maria in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on September 17, 2012, with a cutlass and demanded money and a phone, and when the victim raised the alarm, the convict locked the door from inside.
However, neighbours surrounded the house and arrested the convict, in possession of a malfunctional Nokia phone and cutlass. He was handed over to the police.
Mumuni denied being a thief. He told the court that at the time of the incident he had no job and was living in an uncompleted building in Ikorodu.
According to him, he only went out that day to look for a job to dig soak-away or building foundation. He said some bystanders directed him to a girl nearby; she gave him two phones and promised to tell her parents when they returned about his intention to work at the building site.
Mumuni said he was surprised when the girl raised the alarm, accusing him of stealing, which attracted a mob that arrested him.
The court presided over by Justice Sedotan Ogunsanya found him guilty of stealing, based on his written, confessional statements, made available to the court.