Court jails cobbler 1 year over illegal possession of firearm

A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced a 26-year-old cobbler, Jude Jatau, to a year in jail without an option of fine.

Jatau had pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a locally-made pistol.

Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos summarily tried him, convicted and sentenced him.

He said that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to such a crime.

The prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, had informed the court that the gun was discovered by police officers on routine search.

Gokwat said the convict tied a locally-made gun around his waist.

He said that the offense was punishable under the Plateau Penal Code Law.