A Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Kabusa, Abuja on Thursday sentenced a 30-year-old painter, Zakaraya Usman, to two months imprisonment for stealing four bibles, 124 church membership forms and other materials.
The police charged the artisan with theft, with the Judge, Abubakar Sadiq, sentencing him after he pleaded guilty.
Sadiq, however, gave him an option to pay a fine of N10,000 or serve the jail term.
He ruled: “Based on your admission to committing the crime, you are hereby convicted as charged.
“You are also hereby sentenced to two months imprisonment or pay a fine of N10,000.”
Sadiq also advised the convict not to repeat the act and warned that the court would not be lenient on him if he commits such a crime again.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, O. S. Osho, told the court that the matter was reported at the Durumi Police Station by David Usman, the Chief Security Officer of Living Faith Church, Durumi 1 branch.
Osho said the convict trespassed into the premises of the church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, and stole three mini bibles, one big bible, 14 caprisonne drinks, two bottles of water, 18 testimonial certificates and 124 church membership forms.
Other items stolen were security jackets, two shirts, two jackets, two handkerchiefs, two bags and some cash.
The prosecutor said that during police investigation, all the items were recovered from him.
According to him, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.