A 26-year-old man, identified as Sulaityo John was charged to a Grade I Area Court sitting in Kabusa, Abuja, on Thursday, after stealing five tubers of sweet potatoes inside a church.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the court presided over by Malam Abubakar Sadiq, however, set John free.
John, who resides in Durumi l, Abuja, is charged with theft and pleaded guilty to the charge, saying was hungry when he stole the potatoes.
Delivering judgment, the Judge, Malam Sadiq 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 act again.
“Next time if such a criminal charge is brought before the court against you again, serious action will be taken on you.
“You are also henceforth, warned never to visit the church premises again.”
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr O.S. Osho said the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.
Osho told the court that the defendant stole the five tubers of sweet potatoes from the church premises.
He explained that during police investigation, the defendant had confessed to committing the crime.