Two teenagers who stole items worth millions of naira from two different churches in Dutse, Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have been sentenced to six months imprisonment by an Abuja Grade 1 Area court.
The convicts, Bello Hassan and Friday Baba, all of Dutse Baupma, were handed the jail term after been found guilty of conspiracy, church breaking and theft, offences which contravened Sections 97, 349 and 288 of the Penal Code.
While testifying in court, the prosecuting officer, Kelechi Echendu, said the complainants, Pastor Damilola Daniels of RCCG House of Mercy, Dutse Alhaji, and Pastor Daramola Kayode of RCCG, God’s Heritage Parish, Dutse Baupma, both reported on August 14 that the accused burgled their respective churches.
Echendu told the court that the convicts stole two cooking stoves, two medium generators, one big generators, two big 5000AV stabilizers, a bag containing women head-gears and jewelries, curtains, two Air-conditioners, one Nokia phone, loud speakers, one Samsung camera, eight new pair of pastoral suits, 10 new shirts, wrist watch and other items valued at N1,360,000.
The prosecutor further stated that upon interrogation, the convicts confessed to the crime saying they sold the items stole to one Dini Saidu of Galadima, who is now late. He added that some of the stolen items were recovered from the deceased before his death. The duo pleaded guilty to the charges while blaming the devil for the act.
Following their guilty plea, the judge, Mohammed Marafa sentenced them to six months imprisonment each with an option of N15,000 fine. Marafa also ordered the convict to pay a compensation fee of N400, 000 to the two churches.
