A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday sentenced a 22-year-old mechanic, Joseph Bala, to two years’ imprisonment for stealing N270,000 from a house.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos summarily sentenced Bala after he pleaded guilty.
Bokkos, however, gave the convict the option to pay a N40,000 fine and also ordered him to pay N200,000 as compensation to the complainant.
The magistrate said the punishment would serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
The Prosecution Counsel, Inspecyor Ibrahim Gokwat, had earlier told the court that the case was reported on April 30 at “C” Division Police Station, Jos, by one Odey Obonga, the complainant.
The prosecutor said the convict burgled the complaint’s house and stole the sum of N270,000.
The offence, the prosecutor said, is punishable under the provisions of the Plateau State Penal Code Law.
