Salisu Sule, 25, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Wednesday by a Dei-Dei Grade I Area Court in Abuja for stealing a church glass pulpit and wheelbarrow.

Sule of Yimi Zuba Abuja pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal trespass and theft, pleading with the court for mercy.

The convict, however, was given the option of paying an N40,000 fine by the Judge, Saminu Suleiman.

Suleiman ordered the convict to pay N140,000 in restitution to the complainant and warned him not to commit any further crimes.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada, told the court that the complainant, Emeka Ucheara of the Dangerous Fire and Miracle Ministry in Ruryi Zuba, Abuja, reported the matter to the Zuba Police Station on January 4, 2018.

Ogada stated that the convict criminally trespassed into the complainant’s Church at Zuba through the fence without his consent on the same date at around 11 p.m.

He said, the convict intentionally stole the church glass pulpit valued N100,000 and wheel barrow valued 140.

He said that the in the process the convict dishonestly broke the church glass pulpit but was caught and handed over to the Police for proper investigation

The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the convict made a confessional statement but could not give a satisfactory account of his actions.

He said the iron rod was recovered from the convict and the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code. (NAN)