A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Monday ordered that a 26-year-old herdsman, Jafaru Idi, be given six lashes of cane for stealing a bag of maize.

Idi, of Beruwa village, Abuja, was convicted on a one-count charge of theft, as he pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.

The Senior Judge, Mr. Gambo Garba, in his judgment, ordered that he should be given six strokes of the cane in view of his plea and his state of health.

The judge warned Idi to be of good behaviour and to desist from crime.

The judge also ordered that the recovered bag of maize be returned to the owner.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Lliya Maji had told the court that one Ishuya Kaku of Gosa village, Abuja, caught the convict on his farm on July 29 and handed him over to Lugbe Police Station.

Maji said that the convict went to the complainant’s farm at Beruwa and harvested one bag of maize.

According to him, the convict made a confessional statement during interrogation.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code and prayed the court to try Idi summarily following his plea.

The convict, in tears, pleaded with the court in Hausa language, to tamper justice with mercy.

“It was the devil and hunger that lured me into this act; my parents are dead and there is nobody to help me; I will not do it again.

“I have been suffering from fever for weeks now and have no money with which to buy medicines; please have mercy on me sir.” (NAN)