A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced Ibrahim Musa to one month imprisonment for stealing 15 chickens.
The Judge, Inuwa Maiwada, however, gave the convict option of N3, 000 fine and warned him to be of good behaviour.
Maiwada also ordered him to pay N5, 000 as compensation to the complainant, Haruna Bulya.
The convict had admitted committing the offences and begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Musa said that he did not know what came over him when he committed the crime.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that Bulya of Utako Ultra Modern Market Abuja reported the matter at the Utako Police Station, Abuja on July 13.
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She said on the said date, the convict went to the complainant’s shop to buy 15 chickens which was sold to him at N1, 250 each.
Ukagha said after the complainant slaughtered and packed the chicken, the convict left with the chicken without paying for them.
The prosecutor said he was later caught and the chickens were recovered from him, and taken to the police station.
“During police investigation, he confessed committing the crime and begged for forgiveness,“ Ukagha said.
The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 312 and 323of the Penal Code. (NAN)