NAN – A Grade 1 Area Court in Gwagwalada, in the FCT, yesterday sentenced a 20-year-old businessman, Abubakar Bawa, to seven months imprisonment for stealing two turkeys.
Bawa of no fixed address was arraigned and convicted on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.
The Judge, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad, who convicted Bawa after he pleaded guilty to the offences, however, gave him an option to pay N15,000 fines.
“For the fact that the accused has no previous criminal record, he is hereby convicted as charged.
“He is, therefore, sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for the charge of criminal trespass or to pay N5,000 fine.
“Also, he is sentenced to five months’ imprisonment for the offence of theft or to pay N10,000 fine.
“In addition, he is ordered to pay N50,000 to the nominal complainant as compensation. These are in line with the provisions of Section 365 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Section 8 of Criminal Code Law,” he said.
The court also orders the police to release the stolen turkeys and three chickens found in the convict’s possession during investigation, to the nominal complainant.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl Usman Umaru, had told the court that Bawa trespassed into the compound of one Mrs Obami Freda of Old Kontagora Estates, on December 24, 2013.
Umaru said the convict stole two turkeys valued at N20,000 and 30 broilers worth N42,000, two she-goats, and a he-goat worth N30,000.
“The complainant on January 3 saw the convict with one of her turkey and three chickens and he was arrested,’’ he added.
Umaru said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 342 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Bawa pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.
