A 26-year-old man, Sulaityo John, has been discharged and acquitted after being arraigned for stealing five tubers of sweet potatoes from a church.
John, who resides in Durumi, Abuja, was charged with theft.
Malam Abubakar Sadiq of the Grade I Area Court in Kabusa, Abuja, freed John on Thursday, May 25.
He had pleaded guilty to the charge, saying he was hungry when he stole the potatoes.
The Prosecutor, O.S. Osho, told the court that the defendant stole the five tubers of sweet potatoes from the church premises.
He said John confessed to committing the crime during the police investigation.
According to Osho, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.
While delivering judgment, Sadiq warned John never to commit the crime again and set him free.
The judge said: ”Having seen the small quantity of the sweet potatoes involved, the court will be lenient on you.
“You are, hereby, set free and warned never to commit such an act again.
“Next time if such a criminal charge is brought before the court against you again, serious action will be taken against you.
“You are also henceforth warned never to visit the church premises again.”
