Man Steals Phone In Mosque, Gets 14-Month Jail

A Grade I Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Friday sentenced a 23-year-old welder, Usman Yongo, to 14 months in prison for stealing a phone in a mosque.

The judge, Sani Mohammed, sentenced Yongo after he pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and theft.

Mohammed gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N40,000 fine.

“For the offence of theft, the defendant is sentenced to seven months in jail or an option of N40,000 fine.”

Earlier, the prosecutor, Vincent Osuji, told the court that the matter was reported by one Shefianu Ibrahim of Ammar Ibn Yasir Mosque, Karu, Abuja, at the Karu Police Station, on December 4.

Osuji said that the convict criminally entered the mosque and stole a ZTE cell phone that had been plugged to charge, and belonging to the complainant.

According to him, during Police interrogation, the convict admitted to the crime and the phone was recovered from him.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.