LAGOS – A self-confessed thief, 22-year-old Abdularamoni Jamiu has been sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour, after he pleaded guilty to the offence of stealing.
The convict, who had no fixed address, was reportedly convicted of one charge by a Magistrate Court – stealing a BlackBerry phone, a Nokia phone and the sum of N22, 000 – from one Zuliat Ojubanire.
The police said the incident happened on Saturday, March 15, 2014 while the victim was waiting to join a vehicle to her office, at Costain Round-About, Surulere, Lagos State.
It was learnt that Jamiu, along with 11 other hoodlums attacked the victim and others in the area around 5am and robbed several people of their possessions.
The police, responding to distress calls from the victims, reportedly chased after the thieves but only apprehended Jamiu and one Lekan Nurudeen, 30.
While Nurudeen, who said he was a truck loader, pleaded not guilty to the charge, Jamiu admitted to stealing the items.
Jamiu also reportedly absolved Nurudeen of the crime, saying “I am sorry, please forgive me. I committed the offence, but the second guy does not know anything about it.”
After pleading not guilty, the court admitted Nurudeeen to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties each in like sum and the matter was adjourned till April 9, 2014.
