A Magistrates’ Court in Minna at the weekend sentenced a 45-year-old bricklayer, Ahmadu Garba, to 10 months imprisonment for breach of trust.
Magistrate Christiana Barau sentenced Garba to three months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of breach of trust and criminal misappropriation.
Barau, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N5000 for each offence or serve out the three months.
The magistrate also ordered the convict to pay N100, 000 to the complainants as compensation or seven months in prison in the event of a default.
Prosecuting Inspector Ahmed Ali had told the court that Messrs Dele Martins and Simon Iko reported the case at the Tudun Wada Police Station last year.
He said the complainants contracted the defendant to renovate a house on Talba Estate, Minna, where he stole some building materials.
“He carted away two bundles of zinc, seven flush doors, four door frames, two shower trays and wooden planks, which were entrusted in his custody.
“The defendant sold the items and converted the proceeds to his use,” the prosecutor said.
When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.
The prosecutor thereafter prayed the court to try him summarily in line with Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.