Prof. Joy Ezeilo, a member of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, expressed sadness about poor and vulnerable Nigerians turning to crime due to severe hunger and extreme poverty.
She was reacting to the looting of a warehouse owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
Ezeilo, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a Law Professor at the University of Nigeria, emphasized that stealing is always wrong, regardless of difficult times or economic challenges.
She warned that anyone caught stealing would face consequences according to the country’s laws.
She shared a story from 1994 when she defended a 17-year-old orphan girl who was sentenced to prison for stealing cassava because she was hungry and desperate.
“I remember a case from 1994 where I defended a 17-year-old orphan girl on appeal.
“She had been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing cassava from a farm.
“She was hungry and desperate, yet the magistrate still applied the law.”
Ezeilo pleaded for leniency based on the girl’s age, being a first-time offender, and the circumstances that led her to commit the crime.
Ezeilo urged Nigerians to understand that stealing is illegal and that those caught would be held accountable.
She acknowledged that the poor often have limited options but stressed that stealing is never justified.
She called on the government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector to collaborate on implementing solutions like food banks, food stamps, and other social safety nets to help the poor and vulnerable, especially children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly.
Similarly, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, commented on the looting of the government warehouse in Abuja.
He said it was a message to President Bola Tinubu about the impact of his administration’s economic policies on the masses.
Adegboruwa stated that the looting reflected the hardship faced by many Nigerians due to current economic policies. He called for a review of these policies to alleviate the suffering of the majority.
Adegboruwa highlighted the effects of fuel subsidy removal, which has led to increased transportation costs, factory closures, high unemployment, and a rise in the cost of living while people’s incomes remain stagnant or decrease.
He emphasized the need for the government to address these issues and create policies that prioritize the well-being of the majority of Nigerians.
