Three in prison for stealing in church

A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced three men to 22 months imprisonment for stealing from a church. Magistrate Helen Danboyi convicted Mathew Daniel, 38; Monday Garba, 32; and Peter Chris, 38, of a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and mischief, following their guilty plea.

Danboyi sentenced Daniel to four months jail term with an option of N1,000 fine; Garba, six months with an option of N1,500 fine; and Chris, the ring leader, 12 months with no fine option.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Yange Terzungwe, had told the court that the three men stole items valued at N281,360 from the Grace and Light Ministry in Dong Kasa. He said that the crime took place on October 1.
According to him, the trio broke into the church auditorium through its burglary proof and stole a laptop worth N250,000, a telephone valued at N20,000; nine MTN recharge cards worth N750 each and a cash sum of N4,560.
He said that the offences were punishable under sections 97 and 345 of the Penal Code, Laws of Northern Nigeria.