A Karu Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja on Thursday sentenced a 39-year-old man, Amobi Chukwu, to three months in prison for refusing to pay N48, 000 debt.

The Judge, Aliyu Alhassan, however gave the convict an option of N5, 000 fine.

Mr Alhassan also ordered the convict to pay the sum of N48, 000 as compensation to the complainant and warned him to desist from committing crime.

The convict, who resides at Uke, Karu, Nasarawa State pleaded guilty to the charges for criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Olarewaju Osho told the court that the complainant, Victoria Odah of Kabayi, Karu, Nasarawa State reported the matter at Police Station, Karu, Abuja on February 10.

Mr Osho said the complainant had alleged that she entrusted the sum of N51, 000 with the convict, saying he should take N3,000 as his workmanship.

He said that the complainant also instructed the convict to give the remaining N48, 000 to his own friend who also did a job for her.

Mr Osho explained that instead of the convict doing as instructed by the complainant, he converted the said money into his own personal use and could not pay back the N48, 000.

He said the offence contravened sections 312 and 309 of the Penal Code.

 (NAN)