A Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, yesterday sentenced two security guards, Shabi Audu, 31, and Abdulaziz Saidu, 35, to nine months imprisonment each for criminal conspiracy and theft.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Anthony Ogboi, however, gave the convicts an option of N4, 000 fine each.
He said: “I sentence them to three months imprisonment each for the offence of criminal conspiracy, or an option of N2, 000 as fine.
“I also sentence them to six months imprisonment for the offence of theft or an option of N2, 000 as fine. The sentence is to run concurrently.”
He said that the sentence was to punish the convicts and deter other criminals.
The convicts were sentenced after they entered a guilty plea to the two-count charge.
Their defence counsel, Mrs Lilian Chikwe, in her plea for mitigation, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
She said that the convicts were first time offenders and had promised not to go back to crime.
The convicts were first arraigned on June 10, 2013, charged with criminal conspiracy and theft which contravened the Penal Code.
At the arraignment, the prosecutor, Cpl Emmanuel Adiku, told the court that on June 3, 2013, Shittu Muazu reported the convicts at the Maitama Police Station, Abuja.
He said that Muazu was a security guard in the employment of Beulah Land Security Solution and attached to Raw Material Development Council, Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama.
Adiku said Muazu had reported that while he was on patrol, the convicts conspired and stole 250 litres of diesel and some iron rods.
The convicts stole the items and loaded them into an Audi Vehicle with registration number AJ 995 KWL, and a Mazda truck with registration number XH 877 RSH, the prosecutor said. (NAN)
