2 friends bag 12 months jail term for stealing car battery, charger

An Area Court in Jos, on Thursday sentenced two friends to 12 months imprisonment for stealing a vehicle battery valued at N45,000 and its charger valued at N40,0000.

The Judge, Thomas Ajitise, sentence Aliyu Bashir,18, and Ibrahim Muhammad, 29, after they pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, trespass and theft; and begged for leniency.

Ajitise however, gave Bashir and Muhammad an option to pay N20,000 each as fine or to spend three months in jail for the charge of conspiracy.

The convicts were each also given an option of N10,000 fine or six months imprisonment for theft, and N20,000 fine or three months imprisonment for trespass.

Earlier, the Police prosecutor, Insp. Labaran Ahmed, told the court that the case was reported at the Angwan Rogo Police Station on Jan. 19, by one Muhammad Salman.

Ahmed said the convicts conspired and stole a car battery and battery charger that was kept in a Mosque at Bayan Jeji, Angwan Rogo, Jos.

The prosecutor said that during investigation, Bashir and Muhammad confessed to the crime.

According to him, the offences contravene the Plateau State Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.