Bricklayer Jailed For Stealing Two Packets Of Maggi

A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday
sentenced a 30-year-old bricklayer Jeopardy John,
to three months imprisonment for stealing two
packets of Maggi cubes.

John, had pleaded guilty to a three-count of
criminal trespass, housebreaking and theft.

“I am sorry for the act I committed and I am
pleading with the court not to send me to jail.

“It was hunger that made me to steal. For some
time now I don’t have job, please sir forgive me,
and I promise not to steal again,’’ the convict
pleaded.

The judge, Mr Garba Ogbede, however, sentenced
John to three months in prison but with an option
of payment of N15,000 fine.

Ogbede also ordered that the recovered items be
returned to the owner.

According to the judge, the punishment would have
been more severe if he had not pleaded guilty, and
saved the court the pains of a prolonged
prosecution.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Miss Vivian
Oporomo, had told the court that on July 12, Eneojo
John of the same address, reported the matter at
the Iddo Police Station.

Oporomo told the court that the convict broke into
the complainant’s shop at about 1.30am and stole
two packets of Maggi cubes, valued N700 and one
DVD player valued N10, 000.

She said that when the complainant caught the
convict inside his shop with the said items, he
raised an alarm.

Oporomo said that during police investigation and
interrogation, the convict admitted to committing
the offence.

The prosecutor said the offences contravene
sections 342, 347 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The convict was however unable to pay the
N15,000 fine and was taken to Kuje Prison.