LAGOS, Nigeria – Seyi Sunday, a 24-year-old man, faces a heavy sentence in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court after squandering N196,000 in just four days.
Magistrate Shakirat Obasa on Monday, May 8, 2023, expressed concern about the defendant’s ungrateful and reckless lifestyle, noting that he stole from someone who had saved him from being lynched by an angry mob.
“You do not have wisdom; you spent N196,000 in four days, lodged in a hotel, and did as you please with stolen money,” said Magistrate Obasa, adding, “It is unfortunate that the money cannot be recovered, you do not have family or friends to help you, how will the complainant recover his hard-earned money?”
The complainant, businessman Idowu Tosin, had intervened when a mob was attacking Sunday close to his shop. Taking the defendant into his shop for safety, Tosin asked one of his workers to take N4,000 from the N200,000 in the shop to attend to a matter. Unbeknownst to them, Sunday had other plans, stealing the remaining N196,000 before disappearing.
Prosecutor Olusegun Kokoye told the court that when Sunday was arrested on April 19, he had just N3,000 on him and declared only N10,000 in his Zenith Bank account.
Sunday was brought before the court on April 28, facing a count charge of stealing. He pleaded guilty during arraignment and was remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Center.
Magistrate Obasa noted that Sunday was not a first-time offender, warning him that “you will get a heavy sentence this time around.”
The complainant, Tosin, chose not to make a statement, leaving the decision to the court’s discretion. The case has been adjourned until May 31 for sentencing.
