4th July, 2012
An Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada in Nigeria’s Federal capital, Abuja on Wednesday sentenced two men to one year imprisonment each for stealing a motorcycle.
Alhaji Babangida Hassan, the presiding judge, however, gave them an option to pay N30,000 fine each.
The convicts, Chekwube Emma and Michael Emma, all residents of Abaji in the FCT, were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft.
Police prosecutor Illya Maji told the court that on July 1, the convicts pretended to be passengers and boarded an unregistered motorcycle going to Pandagi village in Abaji Area Council in the FCT.
Maji said that on the way, the convicts forcefully snatched the motorcycle from Adamu Mohammed, the owner.
He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 290 of the Penal Code.
Maji said the motorcycle in question was in police custody and prayed the court to award N4,200 as compensation for the treatment of the victim.
The convicts pleaded guilty to the charges, and begged for leniency.
Hassan ordered the convicts to pay N4,200 as compensation to the victim, and ordered that the motorcycle be returned to the owner.