Man gets seven strokes of cane for stealing three empty crates of soft drinks

A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court , Abuja , on Thursday ordered that one Safianu Umar be given seven strokes of the cane for stealing three empty crates of soft drinks .

The judge , Mohammed Marafa , convicted Umar over charges bordering on criminal trespass and theft .

Marafa, however , warned Umar to desist from committing crime , adding that if he is brought back to court for any crime , he would face more severe punishment .

The prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun , had told the court that one Shamsu Zayanu of Arab Road, Kubwa , Abuja , reported the matter at the Kubwa Police Station on April 20.

He said that Umar and one other, now at large , criminally trespassed into the complainant’ s shop and stole three crates of empty soft drinks, valued at N 7, 400.

Olanipekun said that while Umar attempted to escape with the said crates, he was arrested, adding that the offence contravened sections 342 and 287 of the Penal Code .

(NAN ).