A Chief Magistrates’ Court Kaduna on Wednesday sentenced a driver, Musa Habila, to one year in prison for stealing his employer’s Lexus Jeep.
Habila, 26, who resides in Rigasa area of Kaduna, had pleaded guilty to the charge and said that he sold the vehicle to one Nura Abdullahi at N3.5 million.
After he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of theft, the Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel, said the court had no option than to sentence the defendant.
Emmanuel said that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to those with similar intentions, adding that cases of theft were becoming rampant.
He, however, advised the convict to be of good behaviour and avoid committing a crime as the court will not take it likely with him next time.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Chidi Leo told the court that Omoya Alonge of Victoria Island, Lagos, reported the matter at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).
Leo said the complainant employed the convict as her driver and gave him access to her Lexus jeep.
He added that in December 2017, Alonge discovered that Habila had absconded with the car to an unknown destination and efforts to get him proved abortive.
Leo noted that “when Alonge reported the matter at SCIID, Habila was traced and arrested at Mando Garage in Kaduna.”
The prosecutor said when the convict was interrogated, he confessed to having sold the Jeep.
Leo explained that Habila told the police that he sold the jeep to one Nura Abdullahi at N3.5 million.
He said the offence contravened Section 271 of the Kaduna State Penal Code.
