A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered that a 19-year-old teenager, Clement Baba, be given 15 strokes of the cane for stealing a car battery.

The magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, issued the order after the teenager pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

The magistrate said that the punishment would have been stiffer if Mr Baba had not saved the court the rigour of a protracted prosecution.

He warned him to desist from committing crimes, as the court would not be lenient with him next time.

The magistrate also issued a strong warning to behave well in front of his parents and the public.

Earlier, the prosecution, Chidi Leo, had told the court that the complainant, Sarah Madaki of Narayi High Court, Kaduna, had reported the matter at the Barnawa police station on August 3.

Mr Leo said that the convict usually came to the complainant’s house to do some menial job for her, even when she is not at home.

He stated that on the specified date, while the complainant was at work, she called the convict to go to her house and wash her husband’s car. However, during the process, he removed the car battery.

Mr Leo said when he was about to leave, her daughter caught him. He said the offence contravened the provision of Section 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

The convict who broke down in tears told the court, “I am very sorry, sir, and I promise I will not do it again.”

(NAN)