An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court in Karu on Tuesday sentenced
one John Osigbembe to 30 days imprisonment for stealing two
laptops.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr Aminu Abdullahi, sentenced
Osigbembe after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of
criminal trespass and theft brought against him by the police.
Abdullahi advised the convict to return to his village and take to
farming instead of engaging in criminal acts that could destroy his
life.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Mohammed Garba, had earlier told the court
that Osigbembe stole the laptops, belonging to one Anselm
Njoku, at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)
secretariat in Abuja.
Garba said that it was when Njoku stepped out of his office that
the convict sneaked in and took the laptops, kept on the table.
He said but luck ran out on the convict when Njoku returned to his
office in time and caught him trying to escape with the computers.
He said that the offences contravened sections 342 and 288 of the
Penal Code.
Pleading guilty, Osigbembe burst into tears and told the court that
hardship led him into stealing.
He said: “I used to sell compact discs around the FCDA secretariat
until some environmental protection officials stormed my roadside
shop and confiscated more than 40 CDs.
“I had to send my wife and kids to the village because I could no
longer cater for them.”
Convicting him, the magistrate, who did not give an option of fine,
said: “You are not supposed to be seen again in Abuja since you
have said you have nothing doing here.
“Why not go back to your village and farm? You are still very
strong and healthy and stealing isn’t an option for you.
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