Judge frees hungry man charged with stealing potatoes inside church
A Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Kabusa, Abuja, on Thursday freed a 26-year-old man, Sulaityo John, who was arraigned for allegedly stealing five tubers of sweet potatoes inside a church.
John, who resides at the Living Faith Church, Durumi l, Abuja, was arraigned on a one-count charge bordening on theft.
He had pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
The defendant had confessed to stealing the potatoes because he was hungry, prayed the court for leniency and promised never to repeat the act.
Delivering judgement on the case, the Judge, Abubakar Sadiq, said,
“Having seen the small quantity of the sweet potatoes involved, the court will be lenient on you.”
“You are, hereby, set free and warned never to commit such act again.
“Next time if such a criminal charge is brought before the court against you again, serious action will be taken on you.
“You are also henceforth warned never to visit the church premises again.”
Earlier, the prosecutorion counsel, Mr O.S. Osho, said the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code.
Osho told the court that the defendant had stolen the few tubers of sweet potatoes from the church premises, with its value yet to be ascertained.
He explained that during police investigation, the defendant had confessed to committing the crime. (NAN)
