Court grants leniency to a convict in Abuja, releasing him due to ill-health after he pleaded guilty to joint act and theft, while warning against future offences.
A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, on Monday released a convict, Ibrahim Salisu, on compassionate grounds following his ill-health. Salisu had pleaded guilty to charges of joint act and theft before the court.
Delivering the ruling, Chief Magistrate Ekpeyong Inyang said the court exercised leniency because of the convict’s health condition, stressing that justice also takes into account compassion where appropriate.
“Justice is not about punishing offenders alone. You are advised to be cautious and not ever commit such an act. “If you commit this crime again, you will be sent to prison,” the magistrate warned.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Catherine Okafor, told the court that Inspector Isa Yusuf and Mukaila Dayyabu of the Utako Police Division arrested Salisu on July 25.
According to the prosecution, Salisu and another suspect identified as Bagga, who remains at large, were found in possession of two outdoor air-conditioning units and a pumping machine believed to have been stolen from Morrison Hotel in Utako, Abuja.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
