A Magistrates’ Court in Jos on Friday sentenced a trader, Bitrus Atu, 25, to four years in prison for robbing a man. The Magistrate, Mrs Irene Pati, convicted and sentenced Atu after he pleaded guilty to the three count-charge of conspiracy, causing hurt and stealing.
Delivering judgment, Pati sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment with an option of N20,000 fine for conspiracy while for count two – causing hurt- one year in jail or fine of N30,000.00. The magistrate also sentenced Atu to two years imprisonment for count three -theft, but with an option of N50,000 fine.
Pati, who held that the sentences were to run concurrently, ordered that the convict should also pay N66,000 compensation to the complainant. According to her, failure of the convict to pay the compensation will warrant an additional one month in jail.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the complainant, King Bulus reported the case at the “A” Division Police Station on Feb. 6.
Gokwat said that the convict conspired with his friends now at large and attacked the complainant and his friend with a pair of scissors and dispossed them of their phones valued at N62,000 and N8,000 cash. He said that the offences contravened the Plateau Penal Code Law.
