The Informant247

Two guards sentenced to ten months in prison each for stealing N14 million doors

On Monday a Dei-dei Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja’s Shagari Quarters convicted two security guards, Pius Gaman and Sunday Joseph, to ten months in jail for stealing doors valued N14,040,000.00.

However, the inmates, who had already pled guilty to counts of joint act and theft, begged with the court to temper justice with pity and be sympathetic with them.

“I have committed offences against my employer as well as against God.” We realise it’s a sin; I beg the court to have pity on me,” Gaman says.

In his allocutus, Joseph also begged the court to show pity and be merciful in punishing them.

“I beg for forgiveness, I beg my employer to pardon me, and I beg the court to be lenient in sentencing us.”

Delivering judgment, Justice Sulyman Ola, convicted and sentenced the suspects following their admission to commission of the offences.

“The court having found the convicts guilty of the offences, in line with their plea for mercy.

“And as first time offenders, who did not waste the time and resources of the court, Gaman and Joseph are hereby sentenced to 10 months imprisonment each with an option to pay N30, 000 fine,’’ Ola pronounced.

The judge also ordered the two men to pay the complainant, Juliet Achiegbu, N14, 040,000 as compensation, which the prosecutor had requested for.

“If they default in payment of the amount the two men should serve 48 months in prison in lieu of the compensation,’’ he declared.

According to Ola, the sentence will serve as a deterrence to anyone who may wish to do a criminal conduct.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada, informed the court that the convicts, Gaman, 25, of Gwarinpa Abuja, and Joseph, 21, of New Karshi, Nasarawa State, had been arraigned on a two-count charge of joint act and theft by servant.

Ogada stated that Juliet Achiegbu of Gwarinpa FCT, Abuja, reported the incident to the Gwarinpa police station on January 24 at around 4:00 p.m.

He said that the convicts, both security guards at 4th Avenue Gwarinpa, stole and sold 117 steel door frames totaling N14, 040, 000.00 over a period of time.

Ogada went on to say that the prisoners sold the doors to Ukashatu Yahaya and Mali Abubakar, both of Apo Pantaker, Abuja, for N2,000 apiece.

According to the prosecutor, both defendants acknowledged to perpetrating the crime during the police inquiry.

He began by stating that the offence violated sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code Law.

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