NAN-H-108
Scavengers
By Ugochi Ugochukwu
Abuja, Sept. 12, 2016 (NAN) A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, sentenced two scavengers, Ibrahim Suleman and Jamilu Hassin to one month in prison for stealing iron rods and chairs.
Suleman, 24, and Hassin, 22, of Dumping Ground area, Mabushi, Abuja, were sentenced on one-count charge of being in possession of items suspected to be stolen.
The presiding officer, Abubakar Sadiq, gave the sentence after they pleaded guilty to the charge.
Sadiq, however, gave each of the convicts an option of N5,000 fine, and warned them to desist from committing further crime.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that a crime prevention unit led by one Insp. Abah Gabriel arrested and brought the two to the Mabushi Police Station, Abuja.
Zannah said that the team caught the scavengers at about 2. 40 a.m. on Oct. 10 at Banex junction, Wuse 2, Abuja, with iron rods, Aluminu poles and plastic chairs, suspected to be stolen.
He said that the convicts could not give satisfactory account of where they got the items during police investigation.
He added that the case was still under investigation and the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates five years imprisonment for stealing, with an option of fine or both. (NAN)
UGO/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)