A 26-year old jobless man, Mr John Chima who was arrested and charged before a Lagos Court for stealing a Wheelbarrow has been convicted and sentenced accordingly.
Ebonyi State-born Chima was sentenced to community service after he pleaded guilty before the Isolo Magistrates court for the offence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Mechanic village of the Aswani area of Isolo, Lagos where Chima was caught with the item and he could not give account on how he got the wheelbarrow. He was handed over to the police at Aswani Division who even pleaded with the owner of the wheelbarrow to resolve the matter at the police station but he refused.
Chima was taken to court and he initially pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail and remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
However, on the next adjourned date for the hearing of the matter, he changed his plea and pleaded guilty. The prosecutor, Mr. Oje Augbale then presented the facts before the court and asked that he be sentenced according to the law.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr O.A.Ogbe found him guilty and sentenced him accordingly.
P.M.EXPRESS contacted Chima to know why he changed his position, and he explained that he had overstayed in prison as he could not meet the bail conditions. He was then advised to plead guilty, he did so and was happy he had regained his freedom after several months in prison custody.