A Senior Magistrate’s Court in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has sentenced a 19-year-old iron bender, Asibo Hassan, to eight months in prison for the theft of a generator and iron rods valued at N300,000.
Hassan, who resides near the Abattoir in Gwagwalada, was charged by the police with criminal trespass and theft.
Senior Magistrate Nuhu Tukur handed down the sentence after Hassan pleaded guilty and requested leniency. In his ruling, the judge sentenced him to four months imprisonment for criminal trespass and another four months for theft, both without the option of a fine. The sentences will run concurrently.
In addition, Magistrate Tukur warned the convict to refrain from criminal activities and maintain good behavior in the future.
Earlier, the Prosecuting Counsel, Dabo Yakubu, informed the court that the complainant, Hassan Owudah, had reported the incident at the Gwagwalada Police Station on October 16.
Yakubu explained that on the day of the crime, Hassan unlawfully entered Owudah’s property by scaling the fence with the intent to steal. He was caught in the act and, during police interrogation, confessed to conspiring with two accomplices, identified as Diamond and Kwaya, both of whom remain at large.
The items stolen included a Honda generator valued at N150,000, aluminum worth N100,000, and iron rods valued at N50,000. Hassan admitted to selling the stolen goods to an unknown scavenger.
The prosecution stated that the offences violated Sections 342 and 287 of the Penal Code.