A 22-year-old trader, Bello Mohammed, has been sentenced to two months in prison by a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Jos for stealing a mobile phone.
Presiding over the case, Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos delivered a summary judgment after Mohammed admitted guilt to the theft charge brought against him.
In her ruling, Bokkos offered the convict an alternative to imprisonment—he could pay a fine of ₦20,000 in place of spending one month behind bars.
Additionally, she directed him to pay ₦11,500 as compensation to the victim or serve another month in prison if he fails to do so.
According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Ibrahim Gokwat, the incident occurred on May 20 and was reported at the Nasarawa Gwong Police Station by the complainant, Abdullahi Umar.
Gokwat told the court that Mohammed had requested to use a phone valued at ₦11,500 to make a call but absconded with it. He later sold the device and used up the proceeds.
The prosecutor noted that the act contravened provisions of the Plateau Penal Code Law.
