A Makurdi upper area court on Tuesday sentenced a man, Ochoechi Adakole, to six months imprisonment for stealing money and wedding gifts.

Magistrate Dooshima Ikpambese, delivering her judgement, held that the convict showed remorse over his action and pleaded for mercy.

Ms Ikpambese sentenced him with an option of N10,000 fine.

She further ordered the convict to pay N80,000 as compensation to the couple.

The police charged Mr Adakole with theft.

The police prosecutor, Rachael Mchiave, told the court that Benjamin Igboko of No.6 Asema Achado Street, High-Level, Makurdi, reported the case at A Divisional Police Station, Makurdi on December 3, 2022.

Ms Mchiave said the complainant got married in the Benue Hotels and Resorts Makurdi.

She said after the wedding, the convict, who pretended to be assisting him to pick up the gifts, stole the money neatly packed in a bag in envelopes.

She said the total amount of money stolen is not known.

The prosecutor said Mr Adakole was arrested, and during the investigation, he confessed to committing the crime.

She said the offence contravened section 288 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue.

The convict pleaded guilty and told the court that he stole the money from the groom’s car booth while trying to store the remaining wedding cake inside the car.

He said that he travelled to Adoka, his village, after counting the money.

“The money was only N110,000, but the complainant said it was N250,000,” the convict said.

In his testimony, the complainant said he had told the accused at the police station to pay him N250,000 to settle the matter.

He said the convict agreed and had paid N30,000 so far.

(NAN)