Maize Theft Lands Man, 45, In 3 Months Jail
A Grade 1 Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced Ajayi Adetona, 45, to three months imprisonment for trespassing into a farm and stealing maize.
The convict, who lives at Kugbo, was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft, punishable under Sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Adetona, however, pleaded guilty to the charges when read to him in the dock.
He urged the court to temper justice with mercy, saying, “I beg sir, I and my family eat the maize,’’.
The judge, Mr Hassan Ishaq, summarily tried the convict, following his admission of committing the crimes and sentenced him.
Ishaq, however, gave Adetona an option of N7, 000 fine.
The judge said that the convict should pay N4, 000 to the farmer, Felicia Timothy, through the court, as compensation for the stolen maize.
The prosecutor, Helen Ashasim, had earlier told the court that the matter was reported to Karu Police Station by the complainant who lives in Kugbo area of the FCT on Aug. 6.
Ashasim said that the convict had on the said date trespassed into the farm of the complainant and stole her maize worth N10, 000. According to the prosecutor, the farmer reported that the convict had made it a habit to enter into her farm to steal.
