A person facing theft charges before a Magistrates’ Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has claimed it was his first time of stealing.
Azuna Okafor, 22, of Sauka Kahuta village, Abuja, who was arraigned before Justice Hadiza Shagari of Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, was said to have allegedly entered into one uncompleted house in the area and removed some electrical fittings and padlocks valued at the sum of N250,000.00 from the building before he was caught at the spot by the security man attached to the house.
The prosecutor, Jeremiah Elijah, told the Court that the matter was reported to Lugbe Police Station on August 22,2011, by one Ewere Victor of Lugbe Zone 5, alleging that the accused person was caught with the stolen items while trying to move them away from the building. He, however, averred that during police investigation, the accused person also confessed to entering the house as well as removing the said items.
Okafo pleaded guilty to the charges before the court and pleaded for leniency, saying he was a first offender.
“It was my first time of doing this,” he confessed before the court, and blamed the devil for his act.
He was, however, sentenced to four weeks imprisonment or N3,000 option of fine and was equally warned to stay away from crime as the court would not give him an option of fine when next he is brought before it.