Motorcyclist Bags 5-Month Imprisonment

An Abuja Senior Magistrate, Aminu Abduallahi, on Tuesday sentenced a 23-year-old motorcyclist, Chibueze Nwankwo, to five months imprisonment for theft.

Police prosecutor Yilkudi Dungji said the accused was charged with a joint act, house breaking and theft, punishable under the Penal Code Law.

Dungji told the court that on Feb. 17, Ananyi David of Phase 2, Federal Housing, Lugbe, reported that Nwankwo and one Usman, now at large, conspired and broke into his house through the window and stole some items.

He said the stolen items were LCD Samsung TV valued at N90,000, a camera valued at N22,000, gold trinkets valued at N75,000 and N20,000 cash.

The prosecutor said that Nwankwo was spotted moving at a distance with the TV set, and was pursued and arrested, and that in the process the said TV was damaged.

Dungji said that during police investigation, the said TV and camera were recovered in Nwankwo’s possession and he confessed to breaking into the complainant’s house.

Nwankwo pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

The prosecutor asked the court for a summary trial based on the admission of the offence, adding that he was a first offender.

The senior magistrate, however, convicted the accused and sentenced him to five months imprisonment.

Abdullahi said the convict would serve two months jail without an option of fine for the theft and three months for house breaking with an option of N3,000 fine.

He added that no compensation would be awarded to the complainant but that he could apply by way of a civil suit.