A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Monday sentenced a 26-year-old businessman, Chidi Akaze, to four months imprisonment for theft of bottled water and cartons of noodles valued N16,350.
Akaze of Kado village, Abuja, had pleaded guilty to a count charge of stealing bottled water and soft drinks at Utako market and two cartons of noodles at Pana village, Abuja, on different dates.
The Judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, sentenced Akaze to one month in prison with an option of N3,000 fine for stealing noodles at Pana village, Abuja.
Sadiq Further convicted Akaze to three months in prison without an option of fine for stealing bottled water and soft drinks from Utako market
The judge warned Akaze to be of good behaviour and to desist from crime after serving out his punishment.
Prosecutor Dalhatu Zannah had told the court that Joseph Nwakor of Sabor Pana by Campus Hotel, Abuja, reported the case at Life Camp Police Station on Feb. 17.
Zannah informed the court that Chisom Nnamani of Pana village also lodged a complaint against Akaze on Feb. 8.
He said that on Feb. 8, Akaze criminally went to Nnamani’s shop at Pana village and deceived her salesgirl, one Sarah Unana to bring out packets of bottled water and soft drinks.
“Unknown to the salesgirl that Akaze was loading the packets of bottle water and soft drinks valued N11, 350 in a car; after which he ran to an unknown destination.
“On Feb. 17, Akaze dishonestly went to Nwakor’s shop at Utako market pretending to be a customer and stole two cartons of Indomie noodles valued N5, 000,” Zannah added.
The prosecutor said that all efforts made to recover the packets of bottled water and soft drinks from Akaze proved abortive but two of noodles were recovered from the convict.
Zannah said that during police investigation, Akaze admitted committing the offence, which contravened sections 287 and 288 of the Penal Code (NAN)