Court sentences herbalist to 18 months in prison for stealing car batteries

An Upper Area Court I, sitting in Kasuwan Nama in Jos, on Wednesday, sentenced a 37-year-old herbalist, Salisu Garba, to 18 months in prison for stealing car batteries, two driving shaft, a jack and a wheel spanner, all valued at N100, 000.

The police charged Garba with stealing.

The Judge, Lawal Suleiman, sentenced the Garba after he pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.

Suleiman , however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N8, 000.

The judge also ordered the convict to pay N3, 000 as compensation to the complainant.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct.31, at the Laranto Police station by one Salisu Muktar of Shagari Corner who is the complainant.

Gokwat said that the accused broke into the victim’s house at night and opened his car and removed four car batteries, two driving shaft, a jack and a wheel spanner all valued at N100, 000.

He also said that the accused stole N5, 000 which was left in the car.

The prosecutor said that the accused was caught with the items when he attempted to sell them.

Gokwat said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 342 and 288 of the penal code.