Judiciary
A Magistrates’ Court in Life Camp, Abuja, on Wednesday ordered a security guard, Adamu Mohammed, to pay N1, 000 as fine for negligent conduct.
The Magistrate, Sharon Tanko, gave the order after Mohammed, of Jabi Masalachi Village, pleaded guilty to the charge which resulted in a loss of items in a property under his watch.
Tanko said the court did not sentence the convict to jail because of the directive to decongest correctional facilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also said that Mohammed was sober and admitted to falling asleep while at his duty post, making it possible for an unknown person to gain access into the property to steal.
Tanko said her decision was equally based on the fact that the convict did not have a prior criminal record before the court.
The magistrate said the punishment would have been stiffer if the convict had not saved the court the pain of protracted prosecution.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Peter Ejike, told the court that the complainant, Amos Johnson of Oko Bana Oil and Gas Ltd., Life Camp, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on June 20.
Ejike said the convict, employed as a security guard at the same address, was negligent while on duty on the same date.
He said as a result, two trampoline valued N22, 000, belonging to the company were stolen.
The prosecutor said during police investigation, the convict confessed to have slept off at his duty post.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 196 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
– Jun. 24, 2020 @ 11:55 GMT |
Tags: 000 fine after theft in a property Court orders security guard to pay N1
