A trader, Awal Abubakar, is to receive 12 strokes of the cane for stealing four aluminium windows.

Mr Abubakar, 37, was sentenced for criminal trespass and theft by an Upper Area Court in Zuba, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The prosecution counsel, Chinedu Ogada, told the court that the complainant, Aondofa Agilig, reported the matter at the Gwarinpa Police Station on July 31.

Mr Ogada told the court that at about 9:30 p.m. the convict criminally trespassed into the complainant’s compound and stole four aluminium windows.

He said that the convict, who was apprehended and handed over to the police, admitted to committing the crime.

Mr Ogada added that during police investigation, the stolen aluminium windows were recovered from the convict

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

Mr Abubakar pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.

The judge, Gambo Garba, said that the punishment would have been severe if he had not pleaded guilty.

Mr Garba said the guilty plea had saved the court the pains of long prosecution.