BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has sentenced two youths to 90 days imprisonment for destroying a bridge in their community.
The convicts, Odeke Bernard and Thank God Egwu, were jailed for stealing iron metal from the community bridge and therefore put residents’ lives in danger.
Some vigilant members of Abaomege community in Onicha Local Government Area of the state had caught the duo extracting iron from the bridge for the purpose of selling them.
They were dragged to a police station in the area. After the conclusion of investigation, the police dragged them before the court for allegations of theft and damaging the bridge worth N2 million.
Sequel to their guilty plea, the police prosecution presented the facts of the case, saying that the convicts removed some pieces of iron from the bridge and made away with them.
The prosecution relied on the contents of the charge that read, “That you Odeke Bernard, ThankGod Egwu and others now at large on 5th August 2023 at Abaomege in Abakaliki magisterial district did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
“That you (defendants) and others now at large on same date, place and magisterial district did steal, unlawfully and malicious damage Abaomege bridge pipes valued at Two Million Naira, property of Ebonyi State Government and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 390(9) and 451 both of Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”
When giving the grace to speak, the youths attributed their actions to hardship in the country and begged the court for leniency.
Having found the defendants guilty as charged and convicted them accordingly, Magistrate Chukwudi Igboji sentenced them to 90 days imprisonment to serve as deterrent for others.
