‘I stole my master’s dollars to pay for my admission’

A 22-year-old house-boy on Tuesday confessed before an Abuja Grade 1 Area Court that he stole the sum of $300 from his master’s bag to enable him pay for school fees at  higher institution where he got admission recently.
Innocent Lukas of Phase 2, Site 2, who was given five strokes of the cane by the court, after being convicted for theft, said he was forced to steal, having been denied sponsorship by his father after gaining the admission.
The police prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun had told the court that the complainant, one Joseph Ogundare of same address, on September 12, reported at the Kubwa police station, that the accused, on the previous day, acted in a dubious manner and stole $300 from his bag without his consent.
He said the accused was however caught red handed and was arrested with the money while attempting to escape.
When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded guilty and was ordered to be given five strokes of cane by the judge, Mohammed Marafa.
Similarly, a commercial motorcyclist has been arraigned before the same court for allegedly stealing a motorcycle belonging to one Murtala Idris in front of a mosque at Gbazango, Kubwa in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
Bello Ali, of PW, Kubwa, was charged with theft, an offence contrary to section 287 of the Penal Code.
The police prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun told the court that the complainant, also of Gbazango, on August 24, reported at the Kubwa police station how the accused, on same date, stole his Bajag motorcycle valued at N115,000 and parked in front of a mosque at Gbazango without his consent.
He said the said motorcycle was however recovered from the accused during police investigation.
When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N20,000 with one reasonable surety who must be resident within the court jurisdiction.