Three men have been sentenced to 22 years imprisonment combined for conspiracy and stealing of household items

The three defendants were sentenced to ten, seven and five years by a Jimeta Chief Magistrate Court, Yola, Adamawa State.

The sentencing of the defendants was based on their admission of guilt.

The convicts, Aliyu Adamu, 24, Ahmed Musa, 18, and Adamu Aliyu, 21, all of Malamre Yola, pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.

They were arraigned by the police on a two-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and theft.

Delivering judgment, Chief Magistrate Musa Adamu, said there was a need to deter people from committing the crime the convicts were charged with.

“Having considered the plea of the convicts, a crime such as this should be discouraged in the society, where a group of people visit homes at night to steal, threaten and instill fear in people.

“I hereby sentence Aliyu Adamu, Ahmed Musa and Adamu Aliyu to six months imprisonment for the offence of criminal conspiracy or pay a fine of N50, 000 each.

“Also that you, Aliyu Adamu, Ahmed Musa and Adamu Aliyu are hereby sentenced to 10 years, seven years and five years imprisonment without an option of fine for the offence of theft in a dwelling house, the sentence would thereby run concurrently,’’ he said.

Adamu said that the convicts were given 30 days right of appeal or serve the term.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor Insp Galion Neron, told the court that on Dec. 20, 2023, at about 4:00 pm, the complainant, Mamoud Yahaya, of Malamre, reported the matter at Karewa Police Station, Yola.

He alleged that the suspects criminally conspired together and broke into the complainant’s brother’s house, Isah Yahaya, located at Malamre.

The police prosecutor listed the stolen items to include one black Samsung television valued at N100,000 and 10 perfumes valued at N200,000.

Others include three caps valued at N60,000, underwear valued at N10,000, clothes valued at N300,000, and two international passports, among others.

Neron told the court that during a police investigation, the suspects admitted to the crime and some of the items were recovered in their possession.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 60 and 279 of the Penal Code of Adamawa, 2018.