Beggar bags 7 years imprisonment for attempted child theft

An Abule Egba Senior Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday in Lagos, sentenced a beggar, Aminu Hamisu, 38, to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine, for attempting to steal a five-year-old child.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, said that the accused was found guilty of attempting to steal a child.

“You are thereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine, this will serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

The convict was arraigned on Jan. 22.

He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail but he couldn’t meet the bail condition.

He is to serve his sentence at the Kirikiri Medium Prison.

Hamisu, who lives in an uncompleted building at Papa Uku Street in Agege, near Lagos was charged with attempting to commit a crime of child stealing.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Racheal Williams, said that the accused, who is physically challenged and begs for alms, committed the offence on Jan. 16, at Olusanya Primary School, Agege.

He told the court that the accused had succeeded in taking the child away from the school premises but was sighted by a neighbour who raised an alarm that led to his arrest.

Williams said that the offence contravened Section 275(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN)

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