Court sentences guard to 12 months imprisonment for stealing 4 umbrellas

A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Nasarawa State, on Thursday sentenced a 25-year-old guard, Pam Michael to 12 months imprisonment for stealing four umbrellas and two sachets of salt.

The convict, who works as a guard at Joy Foundation School, Mararaba, was arraigned on one-count charge of theft.Presiding Judge Albert Maga, sentenced Michael after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

"The jail term will serve as deterrent to others who may want to commit the same offence. For the offence of theft, I hereby sentence you to 12 months imprisonment,'' the judge said.

He, however, gave him an option of N5,000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crime. Maga also ordered the convict to pay the complainant, Mr Emmanuel Agbo, N3,000 as compensation for the two umbrellas that were not recovered.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Friday Adaji, had told the court that Emmanuel Agbo of Orozo, Abuja, reported the matter at the Calvary Road Police Station, Mararaba.

Adaji said the convict, who was the guard where the complainant teaches, went into the headmaster's office and stole four umbrellas and two sachets of salt.

He said that the convict was also in the habit of bringing people to the school to smoke Indian hemp. Adaji said that during police investigation, only two umbrellas were recovered. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.