Cattle thief bags 2-year jail term in Bauchi

Justice SY Abubakar of the Bauchi State High Court, Bauchi, on Thursday sentenced Mohammed Magaji-Ali to two years in prison for an offense bordering on criminal breach of trust for a sum of N650,000.00 brought against him by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement issued on Friday revealed that the whistleblower allegedly entrusted the defendant with three cows to care for, but he fattened the animals, sold them and converted the proceeds.

According to the statement, the crime is contrary and is punishable by articles 311 and 312 of the Penal Code.

Following arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count. The prosecution reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict the defendant in accordance with his guilty plea and the evidence presented in court.

Consequently, Judge Abubakar found him guilty and sentenced him to 2 years in prison. However, he gave the defendant the option of a fine of N50,000 and ordered him to pay the victim the sum of N360,000 as restitution.