Corpun file 26159 at www.corpun.com
Daily Trust, Abuja, 27 August 2015, p.51
Teenager receives 5 lashes for stealing iron rods
By Emma Elekwa
A 14-year-old boy has been given five strokes of the cane by an Abuja grade 1 area court for stealing assorted pieces of iron rod in a shop along Kubwa Expressway, Abuja.
Umar Abdullahi of Jahi village, who was convicted for joint act, criminal trespass and theft, offences contradicting sections 79, 348 and 287, was sentenced to six months imprisonment by the judge, Mohammed Marafa.
The police prosecutor, Arziki Kaura, told the court that one Garba Wisdom, on August 23, complained at the Dutsen Alhaji police station how the accused, together with one Awulu and Yusuf, with surname yet unknown and presently at large, conspired and trespassed into his welder shop opposite MRS filling station, Kubwa Expressway.
He said they stole assorted pieces of iron rod from his shop, valued at N15,000, adding though one person was caught at the shop, his two accomplices have escaped.
When the charges were read, the accused person, who pleaded guilty, asked the court to tamper justice with mercy, saying that his two friends lured him into the act.
He was given an option of N6,000 fine. [i.e. in lieu of the six months in jail -- C.F.]
