Teenager gets 15 strokes of cane for stealing car battery

By Patience Yakubu

A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered that a 19-year-old, Clement Baba, receive 15 strokes of the cane for stealing a car battery.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel gave the order after Baba pleaded guilty and asked the court for leniency.

Emmanuel stated that the punishment would have been harsher if Baba had not saved the court the rigour of a lengthy prosecution.

He warned the teenager to desist from committing crimes, emphasizing that the court would not be lenient with him next time.

The magistrate also issued a stern warning for Baba to maintain good behaviour both at home and in society.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant, Sarah Madaki of Narayi High Cost, Kaduna, reported the matter at the Barnawa Police Station on August 3.

Leo said the convict usually visited the complainant’s house to carry out menial jobs, even in her absence.

He explained that on the said date, while the complainant was at work, she asked the convict to go to the house and wash her husband’s car. However, during the process, he removed the car battery.

Leo added that as the convict was about to leave, the complainant’s daughter caught him.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

The convict, who broke down in tears, told the court, “I am very sorry, sir, and I promise I will not do it again.”

(NAN)