An upper Area Court, sitting in Kasuwan Nama, Jos, on Wednesday sentenced a 48-year-old barber, Ezekiel Ibekwe, to three years imprisonment for conspiracy, extortion and stealing.
A panel of two magistrates, Ghazali Adam and Hyacinth Dolnaan, sentenced Ibikwe after he pleaded guilty to the offences.
He was, however, given an option to pay a fine of N100,000.
“For conspiracy and extortion, he is to pay a fine of N50,000 but in default serve two years in prison.
“For stealing, another one year in prison or a fine of N50,000.
“Judgement to run consecutively,” the court ordered.
The court noted that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to those who would want to indulgence in such criminal acts.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 31 at the Laranto Police Station by one Eric Joshua, the complainant.
Gokwat said that the convict conspired with one Emmanuel Anawu, now at large, claiming to be men of God.
“They started by preaching to him and extorted N1,000 from him and later forcefully snatched his phones worth N81,500,” Gokwat told the court.
The prosecutor said that the offences were punishable under sections 59, 277 and 272 of the Plateau State Penal Code
