According to a report by Daily Post on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, public commentator Mahdi Shehu has criticised Nigeria’s leadership and justice system following the conviction of Anas Lawal, a man reportedly jailed for stealing food to survive.
Shehu said the case exposes a system that punishes the poor while shielding those who steal public resources on a massive scale.
Reacting in a post shared on X on Wednesday, Shehu described the conviction as a painful reminder of how hunger-driven offences are treated more harshly than large-scale corruption.
He argued that Nigeria has created a system where petty thieves face the full weight of the law, while politically connected individuals accused of looting billions or trillions of naira often escape punishment.
According to him, corruption has become so normalised that those involved in major financial crimes are rewarded with power, influence, and protection.
He claimed that if Lawal had stolen huge sums of public money instead of food, he would likely be enjoying political relevance or government appointments rather than imprisonment.
Shehu wrote, “Had he (Anas Lawal) stolen N1.3 trillion, he would have made it to the national reconciliation committee. If it was N700 billion, he would be contesting for Senate President. If it was N340 billion, he would be a governor enjoying immunity. If he had been part of those who stole hundreds of trillions, he would be an ambassador by now.”
Shehu said the justice system appears more comfortable prosecuting the weak than confronting powerful figures accused of corruption.
He described this as a moral failure that deepens inequality and fuels public anger.
In his view, the conviction reflects a country where poverty is criminalised while wealth, no matter how it is acquired, is celebrated.
He also blamed political leaders for creating economic conditions that push ordinary citizens into desperation.
Rising food prices, unemployment, and widespread hardship, he said, have made survival increasingly difficult for many Nigerians.
He argued that stealing food out of hunger should not be treated with the same severity as crimes motivated by greed and corruption.
Shehu maintained that leaders should accept responsibility for policies and governance failures that have worsened poverty.
He said it is shameful for a nation with vast resources to allow its citizens to starve while a small elite lives in extreme comfort. See More
Get More Interesting News By Using The Button Above.