Abuja — A 23-year-old man, Onyeka Anyenebuchi, was yesterday sentenced to six months imprisonment for stealing N1,380 from the shop of one Mr Chidozie Ngwoke.

The accused, who resides at Frank Avenue, Suleja, appeared before Senior Magistrate Aliyu Shafa on a two- count charge of housebreaking and theft.

The accused, who pleaded guilty, begged the court for leniency, saying: “It is the work of the devil.”
Shafa, who did not give the accused an option of fine, said his plea “did not hold water.”  The police prosecutor, Paul Anigbo, had earlier told the court that Ngwoke reported at Lugbe Police Station that on June 22, the accused broke into his shop through the ceiling and stole the N1,380

Anigbo said the accused was caught in the act and could not give a satisfactory account of his presence in the shop. He further said that the accused confessed to committing the crime during police interrogation, adding that the offences contravened the Penal Code law.  Delivering his judgment, the Magistrate said that the sentence would serve as a lesson to the accused and a deterrent to others..

He, however,directed that the injury the accused sustained on the head should be treated by the prison authorities.