A Masaka Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State yesterday,
sentenced two men to 16 months imprisonment each for stealing a cellphone. The
convicts are Michael Onazi, 26 and Joseph Ali, 28.
The convicts, who live in Angwan Police area, Masaka, had
pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft, but begged the
judge for mercy.
“We are sorry, please forgive us; we promise not to repeat
such act again,” Onazi pleaded.
The judge, Mr Yakubu Ishaku, sentenced the men, but gave
each of them option of fine of N13, 000.
Ishaku said the punishment would serve as a lesson to
anybody who would in the future, indulge in such act. He also ordered the
convicts to collectively pay compensation of N65,000 to the nominal complainant
and N20,000 as expenses incurred during the prosecution.
Ishaku directed that the money should be paid within two
weeks and held that in default of payment, the convicts would spend additional
one year in prison.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Frank Swem, had told the court
that the accused committed the offences on November 22, 2017 at Masaka.
Swem said that one Usman Awudi, who resided in the same
address as the accused, reported the matter at the Divisional Police
Headquarters, Masaka.
He said on the same day, at about 10 a.m., the complainant
gave his daughter, Karlija, his cellphone to charge in their neighbour’s shop.
He said that Onazi overheard Awudi sending his daughter on
the errand and alerted Ali, who stole the cell phone from the girl and
immediately sold it.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 97 and
288 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
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