One Mohammed Sani, who was arraigned for stealing a power generator, on Tuesday pleaded guilty and blamed his action on the “difficult times” in the country.
“Things are very difficult nowadays,” Mohammed told a Gudu Upper Area Court in his plea for mercy.
Sani was subsequently convicted after he pleaded guilty to stealing the generator valued at N150,000 at Area One Shopping Complex Garki, Abuja.
The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, sentenced Sani to seven weeks imprisonment for the two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.
Kagarko however, gave the convict the option of N7,000 fine, with a warning to desist from all forms of crime.
The prosecutor, Mr Augustine Urom, had earlier told the court that one Miss Chibu-Ugwusor Lizzy had reported the matter at Garki police station on March 12.
Urom said that Sani trespassed into the Area One Shopping Complex, Garki and stole the power generator which belonged to Lizzy.
“He was arrested while he was moving the generator out of the shopping complex,” Urom said.
According to the prosecutor, during police investigations, the accused confessed to committing the offence.
Urom said that the act was contrary to sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code Law. (NAN)