Port Harcourt Court Sentences Burglar To 4 Years In Prison For Stealing Property Worth N160,000

A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday sentenced 26-year-old Benjamin Bernard to four years imprisonment for conspiracy and stealing.

The accused, who is a resident of Port Harcourt, conspired with one Emmanuel Nkasi, now at large, to break into a building located at 25 Ikwerre Road, Mile 1, Diobu Port Harcourt where they stole properties worth one hundred and sixty thousand naira and sold it for twenty-six thousand naira.

Chief Magistrate Felicitas Amanze convicted the accused and sentenced him to one year imprisonment on count one and three years in count two which is to run concurrently.

The crime is punishable under section 516 and 390 of Criminal Code Cap 37 VOL 2 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

The Chief Magistrate held that the court was lenient enough to sentence the accused to four years instead of ten years, for not wasting the time of the court and pleading guilty to the offence charged.

Also, the Chief Magistrate remanded Ibezhim Daniel, a 41-year- old in prison custody for the murder of his cousin, late Ekene Jonathan, on 20 August, 2021, at Ihu-Bush, Ihuakpa community in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

The suspect was alleged to have macheted late Jonathan severally at a farm, over a land related dispute, a crime punishable under section 319 of the criminal code Cap 37 VOL 2 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

Chief Magistrate Amanze said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and adjourned to 3rd February, 2022, for Director of Public Prosecution advice.