A chief magistrates’ court sitting in Makurdi on Tuesday convicted a 30-year-old man for destroying billboards belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State.
The suspect, Ternenge Peter, was caught on Monday destroying a billboard mounted at Wurukum roundabout in Makurdi metropolis and handed over to the police.
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Presiding magistrate, Kadoon Gbasha, who convicted the 30-year-old, warned youths in the state to deist from the habit of alcoholism and mischief and engage themselves in useful ventures to secure their future.
Gbasha sentenced the man to one month community service which in default he will go to jail for two months.
The magistrate also stated that the community service will be carried out at the court premises for 30 working days between 9am and 2pm each day.
The magistrate convicted the suspect after he pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against him. He explained that he committed the offence under the influence of alcohol after being instructed by an official of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which he didn’t mention the name.
The convict had begged the court to forgive him, saying his wife left him with a two-year-old baby girl to cater for.
Earlier, the prosecuting police officer, Inspector Kuegh Abugh, told the court that the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Bemgba Iortyom, in company of the Chairman, Task Force on Illegal Motor Parks, Bobby Uper, had arrested the convict and took him to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Makurdi , while destroying PDP campaign billboard at Wurukum roundabout.
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