Mararaba Senior Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced an unemployed man, Emeka Chukwuma, 31, of no fixed address, to 6 months in prison for stealing goods valued at N5 million. The Senior Magistrate, Mr Iliya Aku, handed down the sentence after Chukwuma pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of trespass and theft.
Aku, however, gave the convict an option of N7, 000 fine and ordered the complainant to file a civil action against the convict in a High Court for compensation.
The prosecutor, PCL Hemen Donald, told the court that one Benjamin Onu of Mararaba Shopping Centre, reported the matter at the ‘’A’’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Mararaba, on August 19, 2014. Donald said that the convict broke into the warehouse of the complainant at opposite Mill and Plaza, Mararaba, and stole his goods
comprising wallets, valued at N5 million. “During police investigation, the convict confessed that he stole goods of 1.6 million from Onu’s warehouse and 1.2 million was
recovered from him,’’ he said. The prosecutor said that the offence was contrary to sections 348 and 288 of Penal Code.
Chukwuma, who pleaded for leniency, said it was the devil that pushed him into committing the crime. “I am an unemployed man; I am the only one taking care of my family and I will not do it again,’’ he pleaded. (NAN)
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