A verdict was delivered by the Grade 1 Area Court in Lugbe, Abuja, as a 23-year-old motorcyclist, Shalom Yusuf, bagged a five-month prison sentence for the theft of N10,000.
Yusuf, a resident of Games Village in Abuja, found himself sentenced on Thursday, August 31, 2023, after entering a plea of guilty to charges of criminal trespass and theft, both of which carried a two-count indictment.
Appearing before the court, the convicted individual earnestly sought leniency from the presiding judge.
According to the prosecutor, Stanley Nwaforaku, the complainant, Uche Uzondu from Jedo Estate Airport Abuja, apprehended Yusuf on August 15, 2023, and handed him over to the Iddo Police Station.
Nwaforaku elaborated that on the same evening around 9:30 p.m., Yusuf cunningly entered the pharmaceutical shop belonging to the complainant’s wife, making off with N10,000 in cash.
The thief’s escape attempt was thwarted, and the stolen money was promptly recovered from his possession.
During the ensuing police investigation, Yusuf confessed to his actions, providing a confession that implicated him in the crime.
The actions of the accused were in violation of Sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code, as stated by the prosecutor.
Presiding over the case, Judge Aliyu Kagarko handed down a five-month prison sentence to Yusuf, offering an alternative fine of N15,000.
In delivering the sentence, Kagarko urged the convicted motorcyclist to embrace good citizenship, exhibit exemplary behavior, and refrain from any future criminal activities after completing his period of incarceration.
The judge also highlighted that the severity of the punishment could have been more substantial had the accused not chosen to plead guilty, thereby sparing the court the burdensome task of extended prosecution.
This outcome serves as a reminder of the consequences of criminal acts, and a call to choose a path of lawful conduct.
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