A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 32-year-old man, Kenneth James, to 18 months’ imprisonment for stealing his girlfriend’s jewellery worth N860,000.
James was sentenced after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of stealing.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, however gave the convict an option of N50,000 fine.
He also ordered James to refund N860,000 to the complainant, Miss Vivian Gideon.
Emmanuel said failure to refund the money would attract an additional 10 months’ imprisonment.
He warned the convict against committing crimes after serving his sentence.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant reported the case at the Gabasawa Police Station on Oct. 5.
Leo said the convict, who was the complainant’s boyfriend, stole her gold earrings and necklace while she was away on a trip.
He added that the convict confessed during police investigation to selling the stolen items.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.
