A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kaduna has handed a 13-month prison sentence to Ifeanyi Eze, a 28-year-old resident of Malali, for conspiracy, burglary, and theft involving women’s shoes valued at N650,000.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel also gave Eze the option of a N30,000 fine.
He emphasized that the punishment was designed to deter others from engaging in similar crimes.
In addition, Eze was ordered to pay N650,000 as compensation to the complainant, Rosemary Caleb, and N20,000 to cover prosecution expenses.
The magistrate stipulated that these payments must be made within two weeks, failing which Eze would serve an additional eight months in prison.
During the proceedings, Prosecutor Inspector Leo Chidi revealed that the offences occurred around 2:00 a.m. in December 2024.
Chidi explained that Eze, along with unidentified accomplices, broke into Caleb’s shop in Ungwan Sarki, Kaduna, and stole several pairs of women’s shoes.
While Eze was apprehended at the scene by police officers on patrol, his accomplices managed to escape with the stolen items.
The prosecutor noted that the crimes violated the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
Eze, who admitted guilt to all charges, pleaded with the court for leniency.