Labourer jailed 3 months for stealing iron rod

An Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, FCT, on Wednesday, sentenced a 22-year old labourer, Umar Bala to two months imprisonment for stealing iron rodworth N100,000.

The police charged Bala who resides in Gwagwalada, FCT with criminal trespass and theft.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.
The Judge, Malam Abdullahi Abdulkarim, convicted Bala for the offence of theft and discharged him for the offence of criminal trespass.

Abdulkarim gave the convict an option of fine of N15,000 or in default should serve a jail term of two months.

“The convict is a first time offender, has shown remorse for his act and has no previous criminal records,” he said.

He warned the convict to desist from committing crime in future and ordered that any one not satisfied with the judgment should apply to FCT High Court within 30 days of the judgment.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, S.K. Iyakwo told the court that Loma Ephraim of New Kutunku Gwagwalada Abuja, reported the matter at Gwagwalada police station on April 27.

Iyakwo said that the defendant on the same date criminally trespassed into the complainant’s building site located at Paiko-Kore Gwagwalada and stole his iron pillar valued N100,00.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.