Two men, Mohammed Abbas and Danlami Musa have been sentenced to four months imprisonment by a Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court, for stealing fishing nets and aluminium coated roofing sheet worth N94,000.
Delivering judgement in Lokoja, Chief Magistrate Levi Animoku of Court I handed down the sentence in a summary trial, following the admission of guilt by the accused persons, upon arraignment.
Mohammed, 22-year-old panel beater and Danladi, 35-year-old businessman of Karaworo and Cantonment areas of Lokoja, respectively were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft, contrary to sections 97(1) and 287 of the Penal Code.
The duo were said to have conspired and stole fishing nets valued at about N54,000 belonging to one Ademu Shekeri and aluminium coated roofing sheets worth N40,000, belonging to Aliyu Suraju, both trade in fishing accessories.
Mohammed pleaded guilty, saying he was pushed into stealing as a result of poverty; he pleaded for leniency. Danladi, who also pleaded guilty to the crime, said he was pushed to commit the crime by the devil. He promised to turn a new a leaf if acquitted.
Following their admission of guilt, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Samuel Ikutanwa, urged the court to give summary trial of the accused in line with section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Subsequently, the presiding judge, Animoku, said he had considered their plea for leniency and therefore sentenced each of the accused persons to one month in prison with an option of N1,000.00 fine for criminal conspiracy.
The Chief Magistrate also sentenced them to three months in prison or an option of N1,500 fine in lieu of imprisonment for the second offence of theft.