Panel Beater in Abuja Receives Three-Year Jail Term for Stealing Customer’s Car

In Abuja, a Grade I Area Court in Dei-dei has handed down a three-year prison sentence to a 40-year-old panel beater named Adebo John for the theft of his customer’s car. After pleading guilty, John appealed to the court for leniency.

Judge Saminu Suleiman, while acknowledging the plea, imposed a fine of N300,000 as an alternative to imprisonment and cautioned the defendant to refrain from criminal activities and maintain good conduct in the future.

Prior to the sentencing, the prosecuting counsel, Chinedu Ogada, informed the court that the complainant, Igwe Ukoha, had reported the incident to the Zuba Police Station.

According to Ogada, Ukoha had entrusted his vehicle to John for panel beating and painting, but instead of fulfilling his obligation, John took the car to Kaduna State with the intention of selling it.

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The prosecution further revealed that John was apprehended by a team of surveillance operatives from the Kaduna Police Command.

The offense committed by the defendant is in violation of Section 287 of the Penal Code, which stipulates that theft is punishable by imprisonment for a period of up to five years, a fine, or both.

The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the consequences of such criminal acts and emphasizes the importance of respecting the property rights of others.