An Abule-Egba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a 19-year-old man to 20 hours of community service for stealing a laptop worth N50,000.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, sentenced Femi Adewusi, who pleaded guilty to stealing the computer from a Power Holding Company of Nigeria office.
”You are, therefore, sentenced to 20 hours of community service. This will serve as a deterrent to others,” the chief magistrate said.
Elias advised Adewusi, a tailor, to desist from crime.
“When next you are brought before this court, your punishment will be severe,’’ he warned.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Adewusi resides at No. 228, Opeki St., Ipaja, Lagos.
The Prosecutor, Insp Rachael Williams, had submitted that Adewusi committed the offence on April 6, at the PHCN office at Olude in Ipaja.
”The accused entered one of the offices in the PHCN office and took a laptop on a table.
“He was, however, caught when leaving through the main gate,” the prosecutor said.
Williams noted that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The section prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing.