An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 30-year-old man, Joshua Abala, to six months’ imprisonment for stealing an airconditioner parts worth N126,000.
Abala, dressed in a worn-out shirt, bowed his head as the charge was read and pleaded guilty without hesitation.
He admitted to a one-count charge of stealing before Magistrate Mrs O.A. Daodu.
In her judgment, Daodu sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment but granted him a 24-hour window to pay the sum of N126,000 to reduce the sentence.
The police prosecutor, Insp Sunday Bassey, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on Sept. 15, at about 6.00 a.m., at Shop 6, Kosofe Shopping Complex, Ogudu Roundabout, Lagos.
He said the convict broke into the complex and stole components of an outdoor air conditioner belonging to Seyi Ogunmoye.
He said the stolen items included a compressor valued at N95,000, valves worth N10,000, a copper pipe valued at N15,000 and three kilos of gas worth N6,000, all valued at N126,000.
“Investigations revealed that Abala was apprehended by the complex’s security guard while attempting to dismantle the A/C unit.
“During interrogation, he admitted to the crime and confessed to selling the stolen items to scavengers for N10,000. A pair of pliers used to unscrew the machine was also recovered,” Mr Bassey said.
He added that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.