2 women jailed for receiving stolen rice, beans

The gavel of justice

A Jos Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday sentenced two women, Mrs Karkuzu Raymond, 50, and Mrs Stella Alechenu, 45, to 10 months imprisonment each for receiving stolen rice and beans.

The convicts, both of Jenta Adamu Street, Jos, were charged with receiving stolen property.

The magistrate, Mr Jovita Binjin, sentenced them after they pleaded guilty to the crime and begged for leniency.

In their plea, the convicts attributed their action to the harsh economic times.

“It is the current hardship that led us to it; we just wanted to provide for our families.

“Rice is very expensive now; we wanted to sell and make profit. It is the work of the devil, we will not do it again,” they pleaded.

After the plea, the magistrate sentenced them to 10 months each in prison, with an option of fine of N5, 000 each.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Thomas Amuku had told the court that one Agbat Luke, a security man attached to the Satelite Market, Jos, reported the matter at the `A’ Division Police Station on Sept. 8.

Amuku said that the accused received two bags of rice and a large quantity of beans suspected to have been stolen, from one Friday Doro and Friday Audu, whom had since been convicted for theft.

He said that the accused bought the bags of rice and the beans valued at N70, 000, from the thieves at the rate of N15, 000.

The prosecutor added that during police investigation, the accused confessed to have committed the crime.

He said that the offence contravened the provision of section 317 of the Penal Code.