An Area Court in Jos on Thursday sentenced one Hashim Yakubu, 28, to eight years imprisonment for swindling a sales girl of three android phones valued N261,000.
The judge, Thomas Ajitise, sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to breach of trust and cheating, and begged the court for leniency.
Ajitise gave the convict an option of N500,000 fine or eight years imprisonment for breach of trust and cheating.
The judge also ordered the convict to pay N261,000 as compensation to the complainant.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported at the A Division Police Station on Jan. 8, by the complainant, Ms Patricia Sati.
The complainant said Yakubu, who claimed to be a lawyer, came to her shop in 2019 and collected three phones from her to resale and return the proceeds, but absconded to unknown destination.
The prosecutor further told the court that during police investigation the convict confessed to have committed the act.
Gokwat said the offence contravened Plateau State Penal Code law. (NAN)