Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 30-year-old bricklayer, Jeopardy John, to three months imprisonment for stealing two packets of Maggi cubes.

John was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a three-count of criminal trespass, housebreaking and theft.

“I am sorry for the act I committed and I am pleading with the court not to send me to jail. It was hunger that made me to steal. For some time now I don’t have job, please sir forgive me, and I promise not to steal again,” the convict pleaded.

The judge, Mr Garba Ogbede, however, sentenced John to three months in prison but with an option of payment of N15,000 fine.

Ogbede also ordered that the recovered items be returned to the owner.

According to the judge, the punishment would have been more severe if he had not pleaded guilty and save the court the pains of a prolonged prosecution.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Miss Vivian Oporomo had told the court that on July 12, Eneojo John of the same address reported the matter at the Iddo Police Station.

Oporomo told the court that the convict broke into the complainant’s shop at about 1.30am and stole two packets of Maggi cubes valued at N700 and one DVD player valued at N10, 000.

She said that when the complainant caught the convict inside his shop with the said items, he raised an alarm.

Oporomo added that during police investigation and interrogation, the convict admitted to committing the offence.

The prosecutor said the offences contravene sections 342, 347 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The convict was however taken to Kuje Prison as he unable to pay the N15,000 fine. (Pilot)