News: Man Opts For Jail Term In Exchange For N2m

A 33-year old man, Dike Okwunna, who was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for stealing and lying before a Lagos court has expressed willingness to complete his prison terms instead of refunding the N2 million he stole from the owner, Joy Aikhionbare, as ordered by the court.

The convict, a businessman, declared that instead of refunding the money, he would rather serve the jail term and after completion, use the money left to start business again.


Okwunna , a resident of 47, Kudebu Street, Ijegun, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, was arraigned before Ijeshatedo Magistrates’ Court where he faced trial for stealing.

The convict, a trader at Ladipo market, Mushin, Lagos, was arrested by the police at Mushin division following a complaint by Joy that the trader failed to pay the proceeds from the sale some Horsepower speed boats worth N2.5 million she gave him.
The goods were imported by the complainant and were entrusted to him to sell for her.

Okwunna was accused of selling the goods and instead of remitting the money to the complainant, converted it to his own use.
When the complainant demanded for the money and he refused to pay, she reported the matter to the police at Mushin division who arrested him.

Okwunna reportedly admitted at the police station that he converted the proceeds from the sale of the goods to his own use.
The police consequently charged him to court for the alleged offence of conversion and stealing.

During the trial, the court discovered that he lied and found him guilty as charged and sentenced him accordingly.

The court in its judgment, delivered by the presiding magistrate, Mr. Abegunle Davis, ordered him to refund the money he stole from Joy or serve two years imprisonment without an option of fine.

He was also separately sentenced for one year for wasting the time of the court by lying to the court.
After the judgment, Okwunna told the court that he preferred to go to prison, thereby foreclosing the refund of the money to the complaint as the court ruled.

The convict said this would enable him keep the money and start a new life after serving the jail term.
Okwunna has been transferred to Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos where he is serving his jail term.