NAN-H-95
Pot
By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Feb. 22, 2017 (NAN) A Gudu Upper Area Court in the FCT on Wednesday sentenced 22-year-old man, Hayatu Bello, to seven strokes of the cane for stealing an iron pot.
Bello, of Dutse Pantaker, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.
The judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, said that he gave the light sentence due to the convict’s repeated plea for mercy, adding that Bello also promised to be of good behaviour.
“Leave crime and learn a trade,’’ Kagarko told the convict.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Daniel Chuks, told the court that one Mrs Offiong Mbat of Wumba village, Apo, FCT, reported the matter at Apo Police Station on Feb. 20.
He said that the accused trespassed into Mbat’s shop at Wumba village where she sells local drinks.
“He stole her big iron pot valued at N10,000,’’ Chuks said.
He said that during police investigation, the pot was found with Bello.
“A half bag of cement was equally recovered from him, which he confessed to have stolen from a building site,’’ the prosecutor said.
He said the offence was contrary to Sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
SET/DEB/IS
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Edited by Debo Oshundun/Ismail Abdulaziz