A 35-year-old man, Mr. Masau’d Yahaya, has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Dutse, Abuja, after he was found guilty of breaking into shops and stealing goods valued at N2.37 million.
Yahaya, who had no fixed address, was arraigned on charges of shopbreaking, theft, and escaping from lawful custody.
He admitted to the charges when they were read to him in court.
Prosecuting counsel, Babajide Olanipekun, told the court that the case was reported on May 21 at the Zuba Police Station by Chinecherem Nwanko and six other traders at the Zuba Fruit Market, Abuja.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant allegedly broke into several shops in 2025 and carted away items including bags of nylon, gallons of vegetables, palm oil, cartons of seasoning, and packs of spaghetti, with the stolen goods collectively worth N2.37 million.
One of the victims, Nwanokwara Samuel, told the court that items taken from his shop were valued at N446,800.
Olanipekun further stated that during police investigation, Yahaya confessed to obtaining duplicate shop keys from an unidentified welder.
He also told the court that while in police custody, the defendant attempted to escape but was recaptured by officers.
Recovered items from the defendant included a bunch of construction keys, 16 bags of nylon, and 18 bottles of 75cl vegetable oil and palm oil, while efforts to retrieve the remaining stolen goods were unsuccessful.
The defence counsel, Linda Asekhouno, pleaded for leniency, noting that the defendant had admitted guilt and promised not to reoffend.
She urged the court to temper justice with mercy to enable him to make amends.
The prosecution said the offences contravened Sections 353, 287, and 173 of the Penal Code Law.
Magistrate Evelyn Gara found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment, in addition to ordering him to pay N2.37 million as compensation.