An Upper Area Court in Kuje, FCT, on Monday sentenced Mutailu Ibrahim, 18, and Shuaibu Auta, 24, to six months imprisonment for stealing a block moulding machine.
The Presiding Judge, Mr. Adamu Wakili, delivered the judgment when Ibrahim, a security man, and Auta, a motorcyclist, both of Tipper Garage, Kuje, pleaded guilty of stealing the machine.
Wakili, however, gave them an option of N10, 000 each.
The judge ordered that if the convicts failed to pay the fine, they should remain in Kuje Prison for six months.
“Both of you are hereby convicted and sentenced to a fine of N5,000 for each count, totaling N10,000 or to remain in Kuje prison for six months each.
“Anyone who is not satisfied with the decision of the court has the right to appeal to the High Court, FCT, Abuja, within 30 days,” Wakili said.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Ninyo Ishaya, told the court that one Olaniyi Awolu of Kuchiako in Kuje, lodged the report against the convict at the police station on February 24.
“Ibrahim and Auta, went to a block industry belonging to Awolu, the complainant, and destroyed the gate.
“They stole a moulding machine and six-inch moulding crates all valued at N125, 000,” Ishaya said.
The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the stolen items were all recovered at Tipper Garage, Kuje, when they were about selling them.
Samuel said the offence contravened the Penal code.
The convicts had pleaded for leniency and apologised to the complainant and the court for their action, promising not to commit the offence again. (NAN)
