Court sentences housekeeper, 5 others for stealing employer’s $7,813

A Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, convicted a housekeeper, Francis Kpohouede, and five others who conspired with him to steal his employer’s  7,813 U.S. dollars and landed property documents.

The Magistrate, Mr Ahmed Ndajiwo, convicted them based on their guilty pleas and the facts of the case and consequently sentenced them to three months’ imprisonment.

Ndajiwo sentenced Kpohouede, 30; George Akinto, 27;  Donald Torkpe, 40; Samuel Tchitchi, 28; Torkpe Honore, 48, and Emmanuel Savi, 35.

The court, however, gave the convicts an option of N10,000 fine for each of the three counts on which they were arraigned.

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The counts are conspiracy, theft from an employer and theft.

Ndajiwo noted that the convicts saved the court’s time by admitting guilt.

He hoped  that the punishment would serve as a deterrent to criminal acts, and directed that the stolen but recovered items should be released to the complainant.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Donatus Abah,  told the court that the convicts committed the offences on June 21.

Abah said that the case was reported to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, on June 21, by the complainant, Mrs Christiana Anyanwu of Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

He said that Kpohouede and the others got hold of Anyanwu’s safe containing landed property documents and the sum of 7,813 dollars.

Abah said that during police investigation, the items were recovered from the convicts.

The prosecutor submitted that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97, 288 and 289 of the Penal Code.

He had prayed the court for a summary under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justices Act, 2015.