By Becky Usman
Two 18-year-old teenagers, Abdulrahman Abubakar and Yunusa Umar, residing in Aya, Abuja, have been sentenced to nine months imprisonment each by the Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja. The conviction stems from the duo’s guilt on charges of conspiracy and stealing, as they were found to have stolen a cell phone belonging to a police officer.
Having pleaded guilty and sought leniency, the judge, Mr. Aliyu Kagarko, provided an alternative for the teenagers by allowing them to pay a fine of N30,000 each. Additionally, Kagarko cautioned them against engaging in criminal activities and ordered them to compensate the phone owner with a sum of N7,000.
The incident occurred on December 28, 2023, when the complainant, Sgt. Sidi Ibrahim, apprehended the teenagers and brought them to the Asokoro Police Station. The theft of the phone took place at 7:30 pm on the same day, with one other person, who is currently at large, involved in the crime. During police interrogation, the teenagers failed to provide a satisfactory account of their actions.
The sentencing is in accordance with sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code, as outlined by the prosecutor, Mr. Stanley Nwaforaku.