A Dei-Dei Grade I Area Court , Abuja, on Monday, sentenced a 34-year-old rider, Musa Isa, to six months imprisonment for defrauding and stealing his employer’s tricycle.
Isa, of Galadima estate, Gwarinpa II, was sentenced on a two-count charge of breach of trust and cheating.
The Area Court Judge, Sulyman Ola, however, gave Isa an option of N40,000 fine, and ordered him to restore the tricycle or pay N1.1 million as compensation to the complainant.
He also warned the convict to be of good behaviour.
Isa, had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.
The Prosecutor, Mr Olaonipekun Babajide, had told the court that on Feb. 16, the complainant, Alhaji Habib Suleiman, of Dankoli plaza, Gwarimpa estate, Abuja, reported the matter at Galadima police station.
Babajide said that on Aug. 15, 2021, the complainant gave the convict his tricycle for commercial purpose and to be remitting money weekly.
He said that the convict collected the said tricycle and after two days, he came back to the complainant, claiming that unknown persons had stolen the said tricycle.
The prosecutor further stated that the convict agreed to pay for the stolen tricycle and they wrote an agreement that he would be remitting certain amount of money every week, but he never did.
He added that during police investigation, the convict made a confessional statement, where it was discovered that he stole the tricycle.
Babajide told the court that all efforts made to recover the tricycle proved abortive.
The offences, according to him, contravene Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.