Court sentences woman to 3 months in prison for stealing children’s clothes

A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja on Friday sentenced a woman, Amina Ali, to three months in prison for stealing 15 pieces of children’s clothes in an Abuja market.

Ali, who lives in Masaka, Nasarawa State, pleaded guilty to theft and begged the court for leniency.

“I am so sorry for what I did; please sir, forgive me, this is my first time to steal and will never do it again’’

“I have four children and nobody is taking care of them right now’’ Ali pleaded.

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The Judge Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada convicted and sentenced Ali following her guilty plea and based on the facts of the case.

Maiwada, however, gave Ali an option of N7, 000 fine and warned her to desist from crime.

The Judge held that Ali, who was a first time offender, had begged the court for mercy.

“Sentencing you to three months in prison would make you repent.” he held.

The prosecution counsel, Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that Nwafor Nneoma, who resides in Dutse Alhaji village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on July 30

Ukagha said that at about 8 a.m Ali went into Nneoma’s shop at Utako Uttra modern Market, Abuja and pretended to buy cotton puds.

She said that in the process the convicted criminal stole 15 pieces of children’s clothes valued at N60,000 from the complainant’s shop.

Ukagha informed the court that during an investigation, the convict confessed the crime and the stolen clothes were recovered from her.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.