Stories by Chris RICHARDS, Abuja
The Gwagwa Grade 1 Area Court on the 9th March, 2016 sentenced a 26-year old lady, Miss Esther John to one year imprisonment for stealing from the Offering Box of a Church.
One Corporal Alu Lawrence posted to the NNPC filling station; Jiwa Junction had in company of his colleagues at Jiwa Junction, Gwagwa on foot patrol at about 10.30pm, suspected the movement of Miss Esther John who resides at Bagusa Village near Dei-Dei, Abuja and accosted her for questioning. In the process, the police officer was able to found out that she went for criminal act at Saint Peters Catholic Church, Jiwa Junction, Gwagwa-Abuja.
According to the Divisional Crime Officer of Gwagwa Police Station, Supol Akpan, Miss Esther John sneaked into Saint Peters Catholic Church Chapel and broke three offering boxes the Church uses and stole the sum of N108, 845.00, which was recovered from her on her arrest.
Upon interrogation, the suspect who claimed that the Church is where she worships however confessed to the crime, adding that, that was her first experience in such action which she says was as a result of hardship and pleaded for forgiveness.
But according to the DCO, he informed nationalTRAIL that the Parish Priest alleged that that was not the first time thieves are breaking into the Church’s Offering Boxes carting away money.
When she was charged to court on the offence of Joint Act, House Breaking at Night, Mischief and Theft at the Gwagwa Grade 1 Area Court on 9th March, 2016, Before His Worship, Hon. Suleiman Mohammed where the First Information Report, FIR prepared by IPO Sgt. Adaudu Joseph was read to her by the Court Registrar, Mr. Gambo and she pleaded guilty to the charges.
The Presiding Judge upon her confession, gave her case a summary judgment by sentencing her to a year imprisonment or to pay a fine of N25, 000.00. The offence according to the Judge contravenes sections 79, 347, 327 and 287 of the Penal Code.
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