An Upper Customary Court in Kafanchan, Kaduna, has sentenced a 28-year-old man, Timothy Bako, to six months in jail for cheating.

Mr Bako was charged by the police with criminal breach of trust and cheating, contrary to sections 296 and 306 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law.

Police prosecutor Esther Bishen told the court that the complainant, Ishaya Zango, reported the matter at the Kafanchan Divisional Police Station on July 29.

Ms Bishen said in February 2021, the complainant entrusted the defendant with N450,000 to construct 17 aluminium windows.

She said the defendant converted the money for his personal use without doing the job.

When the charges were read to him, he pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.

In his ruling, the judge, George Gwani, sentenced Mr Bako to three months’ imprisonment, but with an option to pay a fine of N15,000 for the first count.

Mr Gwani also sentenced him to six months in prison or a fine of N20,000 for the second count.

He said that both sentences would run concurrently.

The judge also awarded a compensation of N430,000 to the defendant following an application by the prosecutor.

(NAN)