Court sentences baker to 5 months imprisonment for stealing N18,000 from employer

An Abuja Court on Thursday sentenced a baker, Usman Surajo, 34, to 5 months imprisonment over theft of N18,000 from his employer.

The convict who resides at Adesoji street Works and housing Estate, Abuja, got sentenced on two counts charge of theft and criminal breach of trust.

Malam Suleyman Ola, the Area Court judge, however, gave him an option of N25,000 fine.

Ola directed him to pay N48,000 in damages to his employer or serve one month in jail.

The judge also passed message of warning to him to be of good character.

The convict had earlier pleaded guilty and persuaded the court to be lenient.

Mr Chinedu Ogada, who’s the prosecutor has informed the court that the complainant, Mohammed Abdullahi of 3rd gate Gwarinpa Abuja on Oct, 1, lodged a complaint about the matter at Gwarinpa Police Station.

The prosecutor also said that on Sept. 29, the Abdullahi gave the convict N18, 000, for the payment of some company staff but he diverted the money to other personal assignments without seeking approval from the owner.

He informed the court that the convict also illegally took possession of the company’s diesel worth N30,000.

The prosecutor also revealed that the convict during police investigation, confessed that Abdullahi gave him N18,000 to pay his staff.

The prosecutor also added that the convict also claimed that some persons had an encounter with him on his way and began to beat him for no reason and took the money away from him.

He informed the court that the convict has falsified the allegation that he stole diesel during police questioning and all efforts to recover the money proved abortive.

He said offence was in contravention of Section 322 of the Penal Code.