A Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ court, Abuja, has sentenced 38-year old Isa Ali to three months’ imprisonment for theft.
Ali, of no fixed address, who was also charged with criminal trespass and housebreaking, was said to have stolen a Plasma television set valued at N47,000 and the sum of N240,000.
The court was told that the cash and television belonged to one Uka Nwokem of Kuchingoro village, Abuja.
The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Paul Anigbo, had told the court that Ali committed the offence at about 11.20 p.m. on February 24.
According to Anigbo, the convict criminally trespassed into Nwokem’s house by breaking the door and stole the cash, the television set and other items, including a Nokia cell phone.
Anigbo said the convict was caught by Nwokem’s neighbours while he was trying to escape with the items.
He told the court that, during police investigation, Ali confessed to the crime.
The prosecutor said that the offences committed by Ali contravened sections 349, 346 and 288 of the Penal code respectively.
Ali, who pleaded guilty to the offences, begged the court for leniency, and blamed his act on joblessness.
Sentencing him, the Senior Magistrate, Mr. Mohammed Anka, said the jail term, which was without option of fine, would serve as a punishment to the convict.
According to him, it will also serve as a deterrent to others who thought joblessness was an excuse to perpetuate crime. (NAN)
