A Life Camp Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced a 51-year-old fisherman, Assan Princewill to one month imprisonment for damaging and stealing telecommunication cables.
Chief Magistrate Celestine Odo handed down the judgment after the defendant pleaded guilty to the crime and begged the court for leniency.
In his plea, the defendant admitted guilt and attributed his actions to hunger.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate said the defendant did not waste the time of the court in admitting to the crime, however would be punished according to the law.
Odo, thereby sentenced Princewill, to one month imprisonment with an option to pay N10, 000 fine.
According to the judge, the sentence will serve as deterrent to those who might want to engage in similar act.
The Prosecutor, ASP Peter Ejike, FCT Command Abuja, had earlier told the court that one Mr Ezra Samuel of Medical Lounge Life Camp, Abuja reported the matter imLife Camp Police Station, on Dec. 12.
Ejike told the court that on Dec.12, at about 5 a.m, the complainant who also is the security guard of Medical Lounge Life Camp, while on duty saw the defendant damaging telecommunication cables.
The prosecutor said the defendant was arrested and during police investigation, he admitted to the crime and the cables which value is yet to be ascertained was recovered from him.
The police charged Pricewill of Jabi Lake, Abuja with theft.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code Law. (NAN)
