2 sentenced to 12 strokes of cane for conspiracy, theft

October 08, 2012 16:34

NAN-H-62

Cane

Abuja, Oct. 8, 2012 (NAN) Two men, Abdullahadi Umar, 21, and Dangwari Abdullahi, 20, were on Monday sentenced to 12 strokes of the cane each by a Karu Senior Magistrates' Court, Abuja, for criminal conspiracy and theft.

Police prosecutor Mohammed Garba told the court that Joseph Oiboh, of CAC Quarters, Abuja, reported the case to the Garki Police Station.

Garba said the accused conspired among themselves and stole four crates of coke, valued at N5,890 from a football pitch at Area 3, Garki, Abuja.

He said the accused were caught while trying to escape with the stolen items and that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offences and asked the court to tamper justice with mercy.

``We were hungry and did not have money to buy food. It was temptation that pushed us into this act. We promise never to engage in this act again,’’ they said.

Magistrate Christopher Oba sentenced them to 12 strokes of the cane each.

``The accused according to the record of this court have no any previous offence. They were sincere enough to have pleaded guilty to the offences brought against them instead of wasting the time of this honourable court,’’ he said.

Oba ordered the prosecutor to make sure the instruction of the court was carried out before the convicts were release ``in order to serve as a warning to other citizens that derive pleasure in taking what does not belong to them’’. (NAN)

APA/LDA/AD

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