A 25-year-old man, Arinzechukwu Igbudu, on Monday, appeared before an Abakaliki Magistrates’ Court I in Ebonyi for allegedly stealing foodstuffs.
The defendant, who is standing trial before Magistrate Lillian Ogodo, was also accused of being in possession of illicit drugs, including hemp and methamphetamine ice, popularly known as ‘Mkpurummiri’.
Igbudu was arraigned on a four-count charge of house breaking, stealing and possession of illicit drugs.
The defendant, who had no legal representation, however, pleaded guilty to the charges.
The magistrate ordered the defendant to pay a fine of N20,000 and restitute N150,000 to the complaint.
“Failure to pay the monies, the defendant will face two years imprisonment,” she said.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, ASP Eze Ndubuaku, informed the court that Igbudu committed the offences on March 15 at Odenigbo, Okpuitumu village in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.
Ndubuaku explained that the defendant broke into and entered a shop belonging to one Chidimma Nnemna, with intent to commit felony.
According to him, the offences are punishable under section 413 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. I, Laws of Ebonyi state, 2009.
He said that the defendant stole foodstuffs, consisting of one-and-a-half bushel of rice, one big tin of tomato paste, three cans of Beta Malt, one tin of Peak Milk and other items valued at N123,100, property of Nnemna.
Ndubuaku further stated that the defendant, on the same date and address, was found in possession of weeds suspected to be hemp and methamphetamine ice, which he could give satisfactory account of how he got.
With this, he said that Igbudu had committed an offence punishable under section 43 of the Criminal Code of Ebonyi.
