A laundryman working in Nigeria's capital city has been sentenced to prison after confessing to stealing a significant sum of money and valuables from his employer. The case highlights the legal consequences of breach of trust by domestic staff.
Court Convicts and Sentences Servant for Theft
Magistrate Farida Ibrahim of the Wuse Magistrates' Court in Abuja delivered the judgment, sentencing Livinus Stephen to 10 months in prison without an option of a fine. The sentence is to run concurrently. The magistrate also issued a stern warning to Stephen, advising him to refrain from criminal activities and to be of good behaviour in the future.
Stephen had earlier entered a guilty plea to the charge of theft by a servant, paving the way for his conviction. During the proceedings, he appealed to the court for leniency, asking for justice to be tempered with mercy.
Details of the Stolen Items and Police Report
The prosecution, led by counsel Mr Samuel Emmanuel, presented the facts of the case to the court. The complainant, Mohammed Sada, employed Stephen as a laundryman. According to the prosecution, the theft occurred sometime in October 2025.
Stephen was accused of criminally stealing the following items from his employer:
- $6,000 (approximately N8.5 million at the time).
- One Samsung phone valued at N350,000.
- One iPhone valued at N500,000.
- An assortment of clothes and jewelry.
The matter was formally reported by Mohammed Sada at the Utako Police Station on December 24, 2025. Following the report, Stephen was arrested. While the police were able to recover the stolen physical property, all efforts to recover the stolen $6,000 proved abortive.
Legal Ramifications and Final Ruling
The prosecution counsel noted that Stephen's actions contravened Section 289 of the Penal Code. This section deals with punishments for theft, particularly in contexts involving breach of trust.
By handing down a custodial sentence without the option of a fine, the court emphasized the seriousness of the offence, especially given the employer-employee relationship. The ruling serves as a deterrent, underscoring that theft by persons entrusted with access to homes and property carries significant legal penalties.
The case concluded on January 16, 2026, with Stephen beginning his prison term immediately.
