Job Seeker Jailed 12 Months for Mobile Phone Theft

A Kado Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced a 24-year-old job seeker, Jimoh Shehu to 12 months imprisonment for stealing a mobile phone worth N110, 000.
This was even as the court ordered the convict to pay the sum of N130, 000 as compensation to the complainant as requested by the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Stanley Nwafoaku.
The Area Court Judge, Malam Mohammed Wakili held that the convict bagged the imprisonment based on his confession to the crime.
Wakili said: ”The court having found Shehu guilty of the offence and taking into consideration his plea for mercy, you are hereby sentenced to 12 months imprisonment without an option of fine.”.
He warned Shehu to desist from such fraudulent act and be a good citizen.
Counsel Nwafoaku informed the court that Shehu resides in Mabushi area of Abuja and was arraigned on two-count of joint act and theft.
Nwafoaku hinted that Mr Nnaemeka Okoh of Kubwa Abuja, reported the matter at Utako police station on August 30, at about 8:00 p.m.
He noted that the convict and two others now at large approached the complainant and sought for monetary assistance to buy food.
The prosecution counsel said that Okoh gave the defendant and his accomplice N1,000 each to buy food and they immediately formed criminal intention, caused a distraction around him and stole his phone.
Nwafoaku stated that while the complainant was searching for his missing phone, the defendant approached him and said he knew who took the phone, and demanded N25, 000 tip to release the phone.
He informed the court that Okoh trusted Shehu and gave him N27, 000 to give the person N25, 000 and keep the remaining N2000.
But the defendant returned with the Sim card and claimed the person absconded with the phone.
Nwafoaku disclosed that the complainant suspected a fowl play and the defendant was apprehend by the police.
He said though the defendant admitted to the crime, that all efforts made to recover the phone proved abortive.
The prosecutor noted that the offence contravened the provision of Sections 79 and 288 of the penal code law.