BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has sentenced three undergraduates of a University in Ebonyi State to five years imprisonment each for stealing a variety of wrappers.
The students, Nweke Obumeneme, aged 23; his brother, Nweke Onukwube, aged 24; and 19-year-old Ujebe Blessing were found guilty of breaking into a shop at number 8, Umunze Street, Abakaliki, on August 12, 2019,and stealing some clothes.
The young undergraduates in a suit marked MAB/697c/2019 were convicted and sentenced after the police prosecution proved the allegations against them beyond reasonable doubts.
According to the prosecuction, the students carted away different types of wrappers, valued at Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand Six Hundred Naira (N290,600.00), which belonged to a trader.
The charge read, “That you Ujebe Blessing, Nweke Obumeneme and Nweke Onukwube on the 12th day of August 2019 at No 8 Umunze Street under Abakaliki Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
“That you (defendants) on same date, place and aforementioned Magisterial District, did break into the shop of one Nwankwo Nkechinyere and stole thirty pieces of High Target wrappers, valued at One Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand Naira (N135,000.00), ten pieces of Nigerian Wax wrappers, valued Thirsty-Five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00), 67 pieces of Daviva wrappers, valued One Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Six Hundred Naira (N120,600.00), total, valued Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Six Hundred Naira (N290,600.00), properties of one Nwankwo Nkechinyere and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 413(a) and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”
The court, presided over by Magistrate Lynda Ogbodo found the convicts guilty of stealing and sentenced them to five years imprisonment each.
She gave the trio option of N20,000 fine each, adding that they must refund the worth of the stolen goods and N10,000 as cost.
