Electrician imprisoned over theft
A middle aged electrician was Tuesday sentenced to eight months imprisonment by an Abuja Area Court for stealing Jinchen motorcycle belonging to Abdulsalam Dahir of Mpape.
The accused persons, Umar Yakubu, Joseph Tafiya and Samuel Abdulkareem of Mpape village were arraigned on a two-count charge of joint act and theft, offences punishable under Sections 79 and 288 of the Penal Code.
The prosecutor, Musa Abdullahi, had earlier told the court that on October 28, 2010, the complainant reported to the police that the accused persons conspired among themselves and stole his motor cycle valued at N60,000, adding that during investigations, the said motor cycle was recovered from one of the accused persons’ house.
When the charges were read to the accused persons, Umar Yakubu pleaded guilty and begged for leniency while the two others pleaded not guilty and requested for bail.
Umar said “I did not conspire with anybody, I stole the motorcycle alone. I am leniency and I will not do it again.”
The prosecutor urged the court to try him summarily under Section 157 of Criminal Procedure Code.
Judge Lawal Manir sentenced him to eight months imprisonment with an option of N5,000 fine.
The Judge however discharged the two other accused persons since the convict exonerated them from the crime.
Daily Trust Friday, 5th November 2010
Page 56
By Usman A. Bello, Kudirat B. Salaudeen & Victoria A. Ochu
