Trader jailed 9 months for housebreaking, theft

A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced an 18-year-old trader, ThankGod Daniel, to nine months imprisonment for breaking into a house and stealing cable wires.

Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos summarily sentenced Daniel after he pleaded guilty.

Bokkos, however, gave the convict an option to pay a N20,000 fine or three months in prison.

He also ordered him to pay N300,000 as compensation to the complainant or, in default, to spend another six months in prison.

The magistrate said the punishment would serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ijuptil Thlwar, had earlier informed the court that the case was reported on December 13, 2023, at the Anglo-Jos Police Station by Fatima Shekarou, the complainant.

The prosecutor said the convict broke into the house and stole cable wires worth N 500,000 before he was caught.

He said that offence is punishable under the provision of the Plateau State Penal Code Law.