A Gudu Upper Area Court , Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 20-year-old carpenter, David Hassan, to seven weeks imprisonment and 10 strokes of cane for breaking into a church to steal.
The Area Court judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, gave the verdict after the accused pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal trespass and attempt to steal.
“The convict should be given 10 strokes of the cane,” he said, but gave him an option of N7, 000 fine.
He said that the punishment would have been severe if the convict had not pleaded guilty, noting that he had saved the time of the court.
Earlier, Prosecutor John Ijagbemi to the court that the complainant, Mr Adejomo Gbenga of Realm Glory Church, Area 1, Abuja, reported the incident at Durumi Police Station on Aug. 6.
“The accused trespassed into Realm Glory Church, Area 1, to commit an offence of stealing.
“On further investigation, it was revealed that the Hassan had sometime in June 2016 broke into Living Faith School, Durumi, and stole some property including two desk top computers, one colour television set and bags of detergents.
“One of the desk top computers was recovered from the accused.”
The offences contravened Sections 95 and 342 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation.
