By Ugochi Ugochukwu
Abuja -“I am so sorry for the offences I committed ; please sir temper justice with mercy,’’ a convict, 36-year-old Nwabueze Orji, a driver, pleaded with a Karmo Grade1 Area Court, Abuja, on Monday.
“Sir, I know I am guilty of all the charges; please reduce my punishment,’’ he said after pleading guilty to the charges preferred against him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orji, whose address is unknown, was charged for a two-count offence of criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, had sentenced Orji to four weeks in jail but gave him an option of N5,000 fine for absconding with his employer’s car and also using the car as a collateral.
Sadiq also ordered the convict to pay the complainant ( the owner of the car) the sum of N40, 000 as compensation and warned him to desist from committing crimes.
Earlier Prosecutor Dalhatu Zannah told the court that Nwanze Nnamdi of Jabi Dakibiyu, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on Sept. 5.
Zannah said Orji committed the offences sometime in August 2016 when the complainant gave him his Mazda 626 car to operate for commercial purposes and to remit the sum of N10, 000 weekly.
He told the court that the accused was able to realise the total sum of N 40, 000 within four weeks.
“He converted the N40, 000 to personal use and also disappeared with the car.”
Zannah said the car was found with one Bala of Dagwa Area 1, Abuja, the man the accused gave the car to as a collateral for a N5,000 loan.
The offences contravened Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation.
Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola
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