A scavenger, Sulieman Abubakar, has been sentenced to 21 months imprisonment by an Area Court in Abuja for stealing an Mp3 speaker worth N5,000. Abubakar was charged by the police with criminal trespass, housebreaking and theft.
The Area Court Judge, Saminu Suleiman, gave the convict an option of paying a N30,000 fine in addition to the prison sentence. Abubakar had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge and pleaded for leniency.
According to the prosecutor, Olanipekun Babajide, the complainant, Abdulrahman Myheiminu of Dawaki, Abuja, reported the matter at the Zuba police station on February 5. Abubakar had trespassed into the complainant’s house and broken his window, which was worth N80,000.
During the police investigation, Abubakar confessed to the crime. Babajide also informed the court that the convict was a repeat offender.
The offence committed by Abubakar contravened the provisions of sections 348, 346 and 288 of the Penal Code. The judgment serves as a reminder that criminal acts, no matter how small, have consequences.
