A Senior Magistrates’ Court sitting in Karu, Abuja, on Monday sentenced a 22-year-old man, Musbau Sani, to one month imprisonment for stealing from an accident victim.
Senior Magistrate, Bashir Alkali handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to the charge.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Mohammed Garba, had told the court that Sani, of Garki, Abuja, was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft under Section 287 of the Penal Code.
Garba said Corporal Richard Usigwa, of the Motor Traffic Department, Garki, arrested and brought the convict to the station.
Garba said, “There was a fatal accident at Apo Roundabout on May 25, involving an unidentified man, now lying unconscious at the Maitama General Hospital.
“The team of police officers who went to the scene of the incident to rescue the victim caught Sani stealing a car battery and some valuables from the victim’s car.
“He was arrested and during police interrogation, the said car battery was recovered from him. An offence punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.”
After pleading guilty to the charge, the convict asked for a light sentence, saying that it was the devil that pushed him into committing the crime.
Before passing the sentence, Magistrate Alkali said, “You are heartless and this is wickedness at the highest level.
“Somebody had an accident and all you could do was to steal from him, instead of calling the rescue team to assist to take him to hospital. To serve as deterrent to others, I will send you to prison and hope you will be of good character after serving your jail term.”
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