Three men, Aliyu Ibrahim, Yusuf Isiaka and Mustapha Babangida will clean Gwagwalada gutters for two weeks from 8 a.m to 12 p.m for stealing cell phone.
An Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja, jailed Ibrahim, 18, Isiaka,19, and Babangida, 29 all residents of Dei-Dei, Abuja for criminal conspiracy and theft.
The judge, Malam Abdulkarim Abdullahi, jailed the trio to two weeks community service as first time offenders who have pleaded for leniency.
“They are first time offenders, young persons, and if sent to prison for phone snatching they might return as first class armed robbers.
“They have shown remorse and have pleaded for mercy, however the offence of phone snatching or pick pocket is a severe offence”, he said.
Abdullahi said the penalty would deter others with the mind of indulging in similar acts.
The Prosecutor, Abdullahi Tanko, told the court that the complainant, Mr Edwin Obiekwe of Pegi village, Kuje Abuja, reported the matter at Kuje police station on Jan. 14.
Tanko said the convicts conspired and stole the complainant’s Infinix S5 cell phone valued N50, 000 from his car when he parked to buy engine oil.
The prosecution counsel said that the phone was recovered from the convicts during police investigation.
He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 96 and 287 of the Penal Code.
The convicts pleaded guilty to the offence and begged the court for leniency.
