One Suleiman Yakubu has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing two broiler chickens from a house in Plateau state.
The 18-year-old trader was sentenced by an Upper Area Court in Jos on Wednesday.
The judge, David Damulak, sentenced Yakubu after he pleaded guilty to trespass and theft.
Damulak, however, gave the convict an option of N25,000 fine or 12 months for trespass and another N10,000 or 12 months for stealing.
The judge said the judgment would serve as deterrent to those who would want to indulge in such criminal acts.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported in Dec. 7 at Laranto Police station by Ms Chioma Ebedu, the complainant.
The prosecutor said the convict trespassed into the woman’s house with his friend now at large and stole two big broiler chickens.
During police investigation, the two chickens were recovered from the convict.
The prosecutor said when the convict was asked to stand to take picture with the chicken for exhibit he tried to escape from custody and was later rearrested.
The offence, he said, is contrary to sections 58, 327, 271 and 134 and punishable under the provisions of Section 59 and 272 of Plateau Penal Code Law.(NAN)