Gist: 22-Year-Old Man Receives 24 Lashes For Theft

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates' court has ordered that a 22-year-old man, Raphael Agbendeh, be given 24 lashes of the cane for stealing N150, 000 belonging to his father, Dr Augustine Agbendeh.

The magistrate, Cyril Enyi, said the conviction was based on the criminal record of the accused, whom he said, was a first offender.

He added that since the accused pleaded guilty, and asked for mercy and also promised to be of good conduct in the future, the conviction was appropriate.

The court registrar executed the conviction by administering 24 lashes of the cane on the accused in accordance with the order of the court.

The police prosecutor, Mr James Onwone, had told the court that the father of the accused had reported to the police that his son stole his money and a motorcycle.

Onwone said the accused sold the motorcycle to one Mr Jacob Jumbo, a mechanic, who in turn sold it to one Mr Christopher Okolo.

He explained that while the first accused confessed to the crime, the second and third accused denied knowledge of it.

He said that the offence contravened Section 286 of the Penal Code.

The prosecutor told the court that investigation into the matter in respect of the second and third accused was ongoing, and applied for a new date for further mention.

The second and third accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail.

In his ruling over the bail application, the magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each in like sum.

He adjourned the case to Sept. 13 for further mention.
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