A Jos Magistrate’s Court on Thursday handed down a six-month custodial sentence to a 22-year-old trader, Moses Baba, after he was found guilty of stealing slippers.
We gathered that the ruling, delivered by Magistrate Irene Pati, followed Baba’s admission of guilt to the charge brought against him by the police.
In a gesture of leniency, the court offered him an alternative: a N20,000 fine instead of time behind bars.
The court further ruled that Baba must pay N40,000 in compensation to the victim, ensuring the loss was not swept under the carpet.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Daniel Damulak told the court that the matter was reported on Jan. 19 at the Angol-Jos Police Station by Nendirnma Boka, the complainant in the case.
According to the prosecution, the convict unlawfully entered the woman’s residence and made away with her slippers valued at N40,000.
Damulak added that the offence runs foul of the provisions of the Plateau Penal Code Law, leaving the court with little choice but to crack the whip.
