A Kaduna chief magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered that a 27-year-old ex-convict, Nurudeen Yusuf, be given 10 strokes of the cane and one-year imprisonment for stealing iron rods valued at N88,000.

Mr Yusuf, a resident of Kinkinau, Kaduna, was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, trespass and stealing.

Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel sentenced Mr Yusuf after he pleaded guilty to the offence and begged for leniency.

Mr Emmanuel sentenced him without an option of a fine.

The magistrate, however, warned the convict to desist from the life of crime as the court would not be lenient with him again if he commits another crime.

“The facts presented to the court by the prosecution showed that the convict is an ex-convict who does not want to change his criminal ways.

“The court records also revealed that Yusuf had previously been convicted and sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for motorcycle theft in 2020,” the magistrate said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo told the court that on January 31, a case was reported through a petition received at the area commander’s office in Kaduna from Adamu Rabiu.

Mr Leo said that on January 30, the defendant broke into the complainant’s house around 2:00 p.m. while at work and stole iron rods valued at N88,000.

He further said the defendant also made away with four buckets of paint valued at N60,000 and one generator, all valued N115, 000.

The prosecutor said the defendant was caught and handed over to the police when a neighbour saw him in the act.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 243, 332 and 270 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. 

(NAN)