An Abuja Grade 1 Area Court in Kado yesterday sentenced two hawkers, Onyekachi Ani, 25, and Tochukwu Anike, 23, to five months imprisonment each for stealing two gas cylinders.
Ani and Anike, both of opposite War College, Gwarinpa, Abuja, were arraigned on a two-count charge of joint act and theft.
The presiding Judge, Alhaji Mohammed Sadiq, however gave the convicts an option of N5, 000 fines each after they pleaded guilty. Sadiq said the option of fine would run concurrently. “The punishment is to make them change their lifestyles from that of crime to being good citizens”, he said.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Simon Ibrahim, told the court that the convicts entered the complainant’s shop and stole the cylinders valued at N30, 000.
Ibrahim said that one Sunday Onwodo of Durumi 3, Abuja, reported the matter to the Utako Police Station on March 30. During police investigation, they were recovered in Ani and Anike’s possession.
He also told the court that the convicts were first time offenders with no previous records.
After the convict’s plea, the prosecutor urged the court to summarily sentence them under the Criminal Procedures Code (CPC). He said the offence contravened the Penal Code. (NAN)
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