Welder, 23, sentenced to 7 strokes of cane for stealing

A Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 23-year-old Welder, Sunday Emmanuel, to seven strokes of the cane for stealing.

The presiding officer, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, found Emmanuel guilty of criminal trespass and theft.

Emmanuel, a resident of UTC Market, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, was convicted for stealing a black Cello tape and a hammer.

He, however, warned Emmanuel to desist from committing crime in the future after he must have served his sentence.
Emmanuel pleaded guilty and prayed for leniency.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Urom Otu, told the court that operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Headquarters, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, arrested the accused on Feb. 14.

Otu said that the NSCDC operatives while on special duty, arrested the accused at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki, Abuja and handed him over to the Garki Police Station.

He told the court that the accused trespassed into the Parade Ground and stole a black polythene bag containing some black cello tapes and a big hammer.

Otu further said that the stolen items were recovered from the accused at the scene of the crime.

He said the offence contravened Sections 287 and 348 of the Penal Code.