Ex-convict jailed 7 years in Niger

A magistrates’ court in Minna, the Niger State capital, has sentenced an ex-convict, Abubakar Zubairu, to seven years imprisonment after finding him guilty of engaging in a crime of which he was earlier convicted.

The Magistrate, Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Isah, said the exconvict was not ready to repent, hence was supposed to be in correctional facility.

Zubairu was said to have been earlier convicted for criminal conspiracy and extortion and had just completed his jail term a month ago.

The prosecutor, Inspector Aliyu Yakubu Kuta, had told the court that Zubairu Abubakar and one Chikali who was still at large conspired and dispossessed their victim, one Suleiman Abdullahi, of his motorcycle.

According to the charge sheet, “On the 4th day of May, 2022, one Suleiman Abdullahi of Anguwan Kadara area of Maitumbi reported at the Maitumbi police station that while he was returning from his shop, on reaching a point at Anguwan Kadara, you Abubakar Zubairu of Sabon Anguwan area of Maitumbi, and your friend simply called Chikali of Challenge area of Maitumbi, now at large, conspired and attacked him, threatened him with a knife and you snatched his Jincheng (rubber-rubber) motorcycle valued at N480,000. During police investigation, you confessed to have committed the offence.”

When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded guilty.