A 26-year old cleaner, Emmanuel Agene, is to spend three years in prison, after he was sentence by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chief Magistrates’ court sitting in Karu, for forgery and impersonation.
Chief Magistrate Hadiza Shagari, sentenced Agene without an option of fine, after he pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery, impersonation and theft.
“I have listened to the plea of the convict; he said it was poverty that pushed him into committing the offence. The reason he gave is not good enough.
“Although, the convict sounded remorseful, this showed he regrets his act, but justice has to take its course in this matter to serve as a deterrent to other youths out there.
“Even though he said it was poverty that pushed him to commit the offence, the items he stole with the money are luxury goods.
“Though he said it was poverty that pushed him to commit the offence but the items he stole are luxuries.
“I hereby find the accused guilty as charged under sections 364, 132 and 287 of the Penal code, respectively, ’’ she said.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Mohammed Garba, told the court that the convict forged the signature of one Stephen Nwachukwu and withdrew N356,000 from his account.
Garba said that the case was reported at Garki police station by Simon Ameh a member of staff of Sky Bank Plc, Area D branch, Abuja.
He said the convict posed as the genuine owner of the account and succeeded in withdrawing the said amount but was later identified through the photograph taken before the money was released to him.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports (NAN) that the convict pleaded guilty to the charge and promised never to engage in such criminal act again.
“I was employed as a cleaner in a church close to my house on a monthly salary of N5, 000 per month.
“I have a wife and a kid and my salary only sustain us for just a week.
“That was why I had to commit this act knowing that I opened the account for Nwachukwu and we have same look.
“I used the money stolen from the account to buy TV set, fridge, standing fan, air conditioner, a Samsung galaxy phone.
“Other items are mattress, rug carpet, food items and I rented a self-contained room for N40,000 per year.
“All the items were seize by the police and the sum of N50, 000 is with the IPO. I asked for more time to enable me sell the items and refund the money to the owner,” he pleaded. (NAN)
