Man ordered to sweep court for 40 days after wallet theft

A 23-year-old man, Rabiu Gambo, has been sentenced to sweep the premises of a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for 40 days after being convicted of stealing a wallet.  

The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel on Tuesday. Gambo, who pleaded guilty to the theft, was handed a lenient sentence due to his cooperation and for not wasting the court’s time.

This case highlights the use of non-custodial sentencing in certain theft cases, where offenders are assigned corrective tasks instead of imprisonment.

In a related development, the police in Ogun State have arrested two individuals for allegedly stealing a motorcycle.

He warned Gambo to desist from committing any crime after serving his punishment.

Emmanuel said that the sentence would serve as deterrent to others.

The prosecution, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that on Dec. 27, one Yusuf Mai-shago of Ungwan Sarki, Kaduna, reported the matter at the Malali Police Station for investigation.

Leo said Gambo stole the complainant’s wallet containing N50,000, two ATM cards and other identity cards.

The prosecutor said the offence contravene the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.