A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced one Suleiman Haruna, 34, to 15 months in prison for stealing N400,000.
The convict who lives at Isa Kaita Road Kaduna, was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal trespass, house breaking and theft.
The magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, who sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the offences, gave him an option of N30,000 fine.
“The court convicts you Suleiman Haruna of the offences of criminal trespass, house breaking and theft which you said was true.
“You are hereby sentenced to five months imprisonment each for each count or to pay N10,000 each for each count charge as fine.
“You are also ordered to refund the balance of N250,000 to the nominal complainant,” Emmanuel said.
Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that on March 18, the convict criminally trespassed into the shop of one Hajiya Zainab Ahmed of Kinkinau in Kaduna.
Leo said the convict gained entrance into the house through the widow and stole the sum of N400,000, to which he confessed during police investigation.
He said that N150,000 cash was recovered from Haruna, leaving a balance of N250,000, which he had used to buy some household items.
The prosecution said the offences contravened sections 241, 238 and 287 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.