A Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. a 27-year-old cultist, Samuel Kalu, who stole an Infinix Hot 6 valued at N41,000.
Magistrate S.O. Obasa convicted Kalu following his guilty plea to a two-count charge of stealing and membership of an unlawful society.
Obasa did not give Kalu an option of fine.
She said that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others, adding that cases of cultism and theft were becoming rampant among the youth.
Obasa advised the convict to be of good behaviour and avoid crime.
“Having considered the facts of this case and that the defendant did not waste the time of this court by lying, and noting that he was a first-time offender, coupled with his plea for leniency, I hereby sentence him to 18 months’ imprisonment on both counts without an option of fine,” she said.
The convict, who resides in Ajegunle area of Lagos, was arraigned on July 24.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Oriabure had told the court that the defendant committed the offences on July 7, on Akimbo St., Ajegunle, Lagos.
Oriabure told the court that the convict collected one Miss Favor Anih’s Infinix Hot 6 on the pretext of repairing it for her.
Oriabure said that Kalu, who was later discovered to be a member of ‘Aiye’ confraternity and a pick-pocket, collected the phone and ran away with it.
He submitted that the convict absconded with the phone in contravention of the provisions of Sections 42 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. 2015 (Revised).
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