A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced a man, Muntari Abdullahi, 24, to eight months in prison for stealing a Nokia cell phone from a Church.
Abdullahi, who was arraigned on two counts charges of criminal trespass and theft, pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Ms Mimi Katsina-Alu, in her judgement, sentenced the convict to eight months in prison with an option of N8, 000 fine.
Katsina-Alu advised Abdullahi to engage in rewarding activities.
She warned that the next time he appeared in any court, he would be serve jail term.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Ambi Ayuba, told the court that Mr Sabastine Teem, of Restoration Christian Chapel, Area 3, Garki, Abuja, reported the case to the Garki police station.
Ayuba said that while the complainant was sleeping inside the church, the accused and his friend, at large, criminally trespassed into the church and stole his Nokia cell phone valued at N50,000.
He also said Abdullahi stole a speaker valued at N30, 000, adding that the accused was caught with the speaker in his possession.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 342 and 288 of Penal Code.
In his plea for leniency, the convict begged for forgiveness, saying “please, my lord have mercy on me, I won’t do it again.’’
“My friend escaped and went away with the phone and I do not know his whereabouts,” the convict said. (NAN)
