ABUJA- A Grade 1 Area Court in Karu, Abuja, has sentenced a 24-year-old bricklayer, Abdullahi Haruna, to one year imprisonment for stealing two gallons of engine oil.
The convict, a resident of Nyanya Tipper Garage, Abuja, was arraigned on a two-count charge of trespass and theft.
The judge, Hassan Ishaq, handed down the sentence after Haruna had pleaded guilty to the charges.
Ishaq, who did not give the man an option of fine, said his sentence would serve as a deterrent to others.
“Having pleaded guilty to the charge before this honourable court, the accused is hereby convicted as charged.
“He is, accordingly, sentenced to one year imprisonment, which term shall start running from the date of his arrest,’’ the judge ruled.
Earlier, the convict had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
He said: “Please forgive me; I was looking for money to pay some debts.
“The pressure was too much on me so I decided to steal in order to meet up.’’
The prosecutor, Insp. Philips Akogwu had told the court that one Adegboyega Monday, of Jikwoyi Phase 4, Abuja, reported the case at Karu Police Station.
Akogwu said that while the complainant was in his shop at Karu Mechanic Site by NEPA Office, Abuja, the convict “criminally trespassed and stole two gallons of engine oil.’’
He said that the convict was caught in the process and he admitted to have committed the crime during police investigation.
The prosecutor recalled that the man had been convicted by the same court for same offence, but was given an option of N13, 000 fine.
The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 288 and 343 of the Penal Code.
