A Dei-Dei Grade I Area Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced a 37-year-old commercial Driver Yusuf Abubakar, to six months imprisonment for defrauding his customer of N210,000.

Mr Abubakar, who lives in Utako village Abuja, pleaded guilty to criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The judge, Sulyman Ola, gave Abubakar an option of N25,000 fine.

Mr Ola ordered the convict to pay N210,000 in damages to the complainant or serve four months imprisonment in lieu of the compensation.

 Mr Abubakar had earlier begged the court for leniency.

He prayed the court to assist him in bringing out his car from police custody, adding that the car is the source of income for him and his family.

The prosecution counsel, Mr John Okpa, had told the court that on August 24, the complainant, Shertima Abubakar of Dei-Dei Abuja, reported the matter at the Dei-Dei Police Station.

Mr Okpa said on the same date, at about 9:00 a.m., the complainant paid Mr Abubakar N210,000 to convey his goods from Maiduguri to Abuja.

He told the court that the convict collected the money from the complainant and dishonestly absconded, refusing to convey the goods.

The prosecutor added that during police investigation and interrogation, the convict made a confessional statement and paid part of the money.

He told the court that all efforts to recover the remaining sum failed, and the offence contravened sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code. 

(NAN)