A Wuse Magistrates’ Court in Abuja has sentenced one Somto Ezeobi to one week imprisonment for stealing a Toyota Sienna belonging to Clover Suites and Apartments.
Magistrate Sadiq Mohammed handed down the sentence without an option of fine and warned Ezeobi to desist from crime and be of good behaviour.
Ezeobi, who pleaded guilty to the charges of criminal conspiracy and theft, was arraigned by the police following a petition by Mr. Chukwudi Ghaly, Managing Director of Clover Suites and Apartments.
Prosecution counsel, Donatus Abah, told the court that Ghaly had petitioned the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, on September 8.
Abah said Ezeobi conspired with the hotel’s driver, Imaoihiemugh Ukuoma, who is now at large, to steal the hotel’s vehicle valued at N14 million sometime in July.
“They sold the vehicle at Zuba at the rate of N3 million and escaped until Ezeobi was traced and arrested,” the prosecutor stated.
He added that during police investigations, Ezeobi failed to provide a satisfactory account of Ukuoma’s whereabouts or the money realised from the sale of the vehicle.
Abah, however, informed the court that the vehicle had been recovered by the police.
He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Pleading for leniency, Ezeobi told the court, “It is my first time, and I will never do it again.”
