A 53-year-old security guard, Bamidele Abiola, bagged a total of 18 months imprisonment for stealing 36 pieces of marine board, after pleading guilty.
An Upper Area Court, sitting in Kasuwan Nama, Jos, on Wednesday sentenced the convict to six months in a correctional centre, without an option of fine.
He was also ordered by the panel of two magistrates, Ghazali Adam and Hyacinth Dolnaan, to pay a compensation of N666,000 to the owner of the marine boards or spend another 12 months in the correctional centre if he is unable to pay.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
According to the magistrates, the sentence would serve as a deterrent to those who would want to indulge in such criminal acts.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Monday Dabit, told the court that the case was reported on Sept. 13 at the Anglo Jos Police Station by one Jorome Philip, the complainant.
Dabit said that the convict stole the marine boards, valued at N666,000, from the construction site he was paid to guard.
“The convict sold each at N2,500 to one Lati (surname not given) and now at large, “ Dabit told the court.
The prosecutor said that the offences were punishable under Sections 299 and 273of the Plateau State Penal Code. (NAN)
