A Dei-dei Grade 1 Area Court, Shagari Quarters, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced two security guards, Pius Gaman and Sunday Joseph to 10 months imprisonment for stealing doors worth N14, 040,000.00.
The convicts, who had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges of joint act and stealing, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and be lenient with them.
“I have committed the offences against my employer and even before God. We know it is a sin; I ask that the court will have mercy on me,’’ Gaman.
In his allocutus, Joseph also asked the court for mercy and be lenient in imposing punishment on them.
“I plead for mercy, I ask that my employer forgives me and the court be lenient in punishing us.’’
Delivering judgment, Justice Sulyman Ola, convicted and sentenced the suspects following their admission to commission of the offences.
“The court having found the convicts guilty of the offences, in line with their plea for mercy.
“And as first time offenders, who did not waste the time and resources of the court, Gaman and Joseph are hereby sentenced to 10 months imprisonment each with an option to pay N30, 000 fine,’’ Ola pronounced.
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The judge also ordered the two men to pay the complainant, Juliet Achiegbu, N14, 040,000 as compensation, which the prosecutor had requested for.
“If they default in payment of the amount the two men should serve 48 months in prison in lieu of the compensation,’’ he declared.
Ola said that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to those who would want to indulge in any criminal act.
Earlier, The prosecution counsel Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that the convicts Gaman, 25, of Gwarinpa Abuja, and Joseph,21, of New Karshi, Nasarawa State, were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on joint act and theft by servant.
Ogada said Juliet Achiegbu, of Gwarinpa FCT, Abuja reported the matter at Gwarinpa police station on Jan. 24 at about 4:00pm.
He stated that the convicts, both security guards at 4th Avenue Gwarinpa, jointly and dishonestly stole and sold 117 steel door frames all valued at N14, 040, 000.00 over a period of time.
Ogada added that the convicts sold the doors to Ukashatu Yahaya and Mali Abubakar both of Apo pantaker, Abuja at the rate of N2, 000 each.
The prosecution counsel said during police investigation both defendants admitted to committing the offence.
He stated that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code Law.
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