MARARABA – A Grade 1 Area Court in Mararaba, Nasatawa State, on Thursday sentenced a bakery worker, Jacob Tenimu, 27, to four years in prison for stealing two bags of flour.
Tenimu, who resides beside Yoruba Mosque, in Aso Pada, Mararaba, was arraigned on two counts of criminal trespass and theft.
The presiding judge, Mr Albert Maga, said that though the convict pleaded guilty and did not waste the time of the court, he must be punished.
Maga ordered him to pay N10,000 as compensation to the nominal complainant, one Bitrus Jawlo of same address.
He also gave the convict an option of N6,000 fine.
Jawlo, in his testimony, told the court that the convict worked for him at `Jawlo Bakery’ in Aso Pada, Mararaba.
He said that the convict had been stealing from him.
“This time around, I discovered that two bags of flour were missing from the store.
“I investigated, I discovered Tenimu stole the flour on a motorcycle, heading to Mararaba
“I later confronted Tenimu and he confessed to the crime and agreed to take me to the people he sold the bags of flour to,” he said.
Jawlo also said that he agreed to meet the buyers on the ground that police men would accompany him.
He further said that on their way to the police station, the convict attempted to jump from the motorcycle and flee.
The convict was first arraigned on March 31.
On that same date, the prosecutor, Mr Friday Adaji, told the court that one Jawlo reported the matter at the Aso Pada Police Station.
Adaji said that on March 29, at about 5 a.m., the convict broke into the complainant’s store and stole the flour worth N14,400.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charges, blaming it on the devil.
“It is the work of the devil; the devil is the one that entered me and influenced me to commit this offence.
“I have now repented and I will never do it again, I swear,” he said. (NAN)
