A Gudu Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday sentenced a 26-year-old businessman, Barau Sani, to four weeks in prison for stealing a Gas Cooker and Gas Cylinder.
The judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, however, gave Sani an option of N 6, 000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crime. Kagarko also ordered that the recovered items should be returned to the owner within 30 days from Jan. 26.
Sani, a resident of Garki Village, Abuja, was convicted on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Urom Otu, told the court that one Ochoga Monday, of Studies Garden, Garki 2, Abuja, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on Jan. 20.
He said Sani criminally trespassed into the said Garden where the plaintiff works and stole the gas cooker and a gas cylinder on the said date. He further said that while Sani was attempting to escape with the said items, the plaintiff saw him and raised the alarm.
Otu said Sani was chased and arrested with the assistance of the security guards within the Garden, adding that the offence contravened Sections 348 and 287 of the penal code. Sani pleaded guilty and prayed the court for leniency.