Man bags one month community service over N4.6m theft

A 22-year-old man, Peter Joseph, has been sentenced to one month of community service by a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, after he was convicted in a case involving the sale of his employer’s iron rods valued at N4.6 million.

Joseph, a resident of Mabushi, was arraigned before Court 4 over the alleged offence committed on August 27.

The prosecution told the court that Joseph, who worked for an iron dealer in Mabushi, was employed to assist with the sale of iron rods but allegedly sold some of the stock without his employer’s consent.

The value of the iron rods involved was put at N4.6 million.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to Joseph’s arraignment on September 13.

The prosecutor applied for summary trial and conviction under Section 112(8) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Following the application, the court convicted Joseph.

However, the court’s consideration of the value of the alleged stolen goods was complicated by the absence of the nominal complainant.

The court had directed the complainant to appear and substantiate the N4.6 million valuation by producing relevant receipts.

He was, however, absent from proceedings, with the court informed that he was receiving treatment in a hospital.

The court was also told that the complainant had failed to attend an earlier adjourned sitting.

It further noted that no medical report had been presented to support the claim that he was ill.

The court consequently expressed concern over the complainant’s repeated absence, holding that his failure to appear demonstrated a lack of seriousness in pursuing the matter.

Rather than impose a custodial sentence, the court ordered Joseph to perform community service.

He was directed to sweep the court premises for one month as part of the non-custodial sentence.