A Dutse Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on Tuesday sentenced two men to three months imprisonment, without an option of fine, for criminal conspiracy and extortion.

The convicts, Saminu Mohammed and Samaila Suleiman, were sentenced by Magistrate Ibrahim Alkali after pleading guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Juliana Atinko, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on August 29 along Byazhin Road near Central Market, Kubwa, Abuja.

She said they conspired with two accomplices still at large and extorted Adekunle Ojo of a Samsung A05 phone worth N130,000 and a car battery valued at N95,000.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 97 and 292 of the Penal Code Law.

She added that the stolen items were recovered.

When the first information report (FIR) was read, the defendants confirmed they understood the charges and pleaded guilty.

Ms Atinko then urged the court to convict them under Sections 112 and 8 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The magistrate asked whether they knew their actions were criminal and whether they had reasons not to be convicted.

The defendants admitted wrongdoing, pleaded for forgiveness and told the court that the stolen items had been recovered.

The defence counsel, Linda Asekhauno, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the defendants did not waste the court’s time.

She said the convicts were family men and prayed the court to consider a non-custodial sentence since the stolen items had been recovered.

In his judgement, Mr Alkali held that offenders could not be returned to society without accounting for their crimes.

He consequently sentenced the defendants to three months’ imprisonment without an option of a fine.

The magistrate also ordered them to sign an undertaking not to return to criminal activities. 

(NAN)