Olayiwola Ishola, a security guard in Osogbo, Osun State, attributed the country’s hardship as the reason for his decision to break into a shop and steal property valued at N448,000.

Ishola was arraigned before a federal high court sitting in Osogbo on one count of housebreaking and stealing.

The charge sheet stated that the convict, being a security guard and being charged with the duty of securing properties at Keystone bank area, Osogbo, “did unlawfully break into the shop of one Yusuff Kazeem Deji ‘m’ and stole clothes, trousers, belts, and boxers valued N448,000 property of Yusuff Kazeem Deji ‘m’ and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap “C38″ Vol.IV Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”

The convict who had no legal representation, admitted guilty of the charge and he was remanded in the Ilesa correctional centre.

When his case came up on Thursday, he pleaded with the court to be merciful with him, saying the hardship in the nation pushed him to the crime because his salary was not enough to cater for his family.

Justice Mashkur Salisu, who considered the plea of leniency in line with the provision of Sections 416 & 460 ACJA 2015 and dependants of the convict, thereby sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment.