Electrician bags 6 months imprisonment for stealing electric cables
NAN-H-62
Electrician
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, June 14, 2017 (NAN) The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, sentenced a 22-year-old electrician, Mohammed Tanko, to six months imprison for stealing electric cables.
Tanko, who was arraigned by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for tampering with and damaging electric cables, admitted committing the offence.
The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who convicted Tanko, however, gave him an option of N50, 000 fine.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Ms Blessing Odia, told the court that Tanko was arrested in a village in Kwali Area Council of the FCT for vandalism.
She said that the offence contravened Section 1(9) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004 and punishable under the same Act.
Mr Emmanuel Obi-Uti, a prosecution witness, told the court that Tanko was arrested by members of the vigilante group in Koroko village.
“He was sighted by the vigilante group at about 1.00a.m on May 15 with one Baba Ramatu, who is at large.
“Baba Ramatu, who was on the pole disconnecting the cable, on sighting the vigilante group, fled the scene.
“The group arrested Tanko with two 95 millimeters cable and one saw and handed him over to the NSCDC.”
Tanko, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded with the court for mercy, saying that it was the first time he had committed such a crime, adding that it was Baba Ramatu who lured him into it.
Tanko, who said he was a car electrician, further asked the court to tamper justice with mercy since he had a wife and a son to cater for.
Justice Dimgba ordered that the cables and saw, which were tendered in evidence be released to the NSCDC for public destruction, where no appeal was entered within 30 days of the judgment. (NAN)
WS/KOLE/OU
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Obike Ukoh