The Senior Magistrate, Mr Aminu Abdullahi, sentenced Osigbembe after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft brought against him by the police.
Abdullahi advised the convict to return to his village and take to farming instead of engaging in criminal acts that could destroy his life.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Mohammed Garba, had earlier told the court that Osigbembe stole the laptops, belonging to one Anselm Njoku, at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) secretariat in Abuja.
Garba said that it was when Njoku stepped out of his office that the convict sneaked in and took the laptops, kept on the table.
He said but luck ran out on the convict when Njoku returned to his office in time and caught him trying to escape with the computers.
He said that the offences contravened sections 342 and 288 of the Penal Code.
Pleading guilty, Osigbembe burst into tears and told the court that hardship led him into stealing.
He said: “I used to sell compact discs around the FCDA secretariat until some environmental protection officials stormed my roadside shop and confiscated more than 40 CDs.
“I had to send my wife and kids to the village because I could no longer cater for them.”
Convicting him, the magistrate, who did not give an option of fine, said: “You are not supposed to be seen again in Abuja since you have said you have nothing doing here.
“Why not go back to your village and farm? You are still very strong and healthy and stealing isn’t an option for you.
“I hope you will yield to this advice after serving your prison term.” (NAN)
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