Jos Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 28-year-old businessman, Peter Sunday, to one-year imprisonment for stealing motor parts valued at N200, 000.
Following his guilty plea to the accusation, he was summarily sentenced on Sunday by Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos.
However, Mr. Bokkos offered the prisoner the choice to compensate the complainant with N100,000 or N30,000.
The magistrate believed that other potential offenders would be discouraged by the sentencing.
Inspector Labaran Ahmed, the prosecutor, had earlier informed the court that Stephen Dung, the complainant, had reported the matter on March 19 at the “B” Police station in Bukuru.
According to the prosecutor, the prisoner broke into a mechanic’s shop and took the gearbox.
However, he informed the court, the prisoner was caught just as he was preparing to sell the pilfered item.
He claims that the offense is subject to punishment under the Plateau State