Court acquits worker accused of stealing tanker batteries

A Karu Magistrate Court in Abuja on Thursday acquitted 21-year-old worker Zaradeen Sani of charges of stealing four batteries valued at 600,000 naira.

Judge Lami Ogohi dismissed Sani at the request of prosecutor Steven Osho, who had requested that the case be dismissed due to lack of interest on the part of plaintiff Adoro Augustine.

Sani, who lives at Nape Junction Apo in Abuja, was charged with trespassing and theft.

When announcing the verdict, the judge said: “After hearing the prosecutor's motion to dismiss the case due to the plaintiff's lack of interest, the case is hereby dismissed.”

“The accused is further acquitted of all criminal charges and the First Information Report (FIR) is hereby withdrawn.”

The prosecutor had previously informed the court that the plaintiff reported the case to the Apo police station on August 4.

He said that the accused and two other persons, who are now at large, entered the plaintiff's house at 3:00 a.m. on the same day without his consent.

He said the defendant stole four tanker batteries belonging to the plaintiff valued at 600,000 naira and fled to an unknown destination.

The prosecutor said the defendant was later arrested.

He said the defendant made a confession during the police investigation.

According to him, the confession led to the seizure of two batteries.

Osho told the court that the accused's friends had taken away the other batteries

He said the offences violated sections 79, 287 and 348 of the Penal Code.