Teenager flogged for stealing phone

A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja has ordered that a teenager, Yahaya Ibrahim, be given 10 strokes of the cane for breaking into a house and stealing a phone.

The court gave the sentence yesterday following a guilty plea by 18-year-old Ibrahim, who resides at Mab Global Junction, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja. He was charged on two counts. The presiding judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, said the light punishment was because Ibrahim saved the court from prolonged trial, but hoped that it would serve as a deterrent to others.

Sadiq warned the teenager to shun crime.

The prosecutor, Mr Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that Ibrahim committed the offences on Feb. 4 at 5a.m.

He said the convict broke into the apartment of Mrs Stella Ihunno of No. 66, 693 Road Gwarinpa, and stole her Samsung Galaxy 6 Edge phone while she was asleep.

Zannah said Ibrahim stole the phone worth N320,000 on March 16.

He said the police recovered the phone from Ibrahim during an investigation.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 353 and 288 of the Penal Code.

Zanna had prayed the court to try the accused summarily under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justices Act, 2015, following his admission of guilt. (NAN)