A 32-year-old man, Kenneth James, was on Wednesday sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by a Kaduna magistrates’ court for stealing jewellery worth N860,000 belonging to his girlfriend.
James pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of stealing before Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, who sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment, with an option of a N50,000 fine.
The magistrate also ordered him to refund N860,000 to the complainant, Miss Vivian Gideon.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Emmanuel said the convict would serve an additional 10 months’ imprisonment if he failed to refund the money to the complainant.
The magistrate warned James against committing further offences after serving his sentence, urging him to be of good behaviour and abide by the law.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant reported the case at Gabasawa Police Station on October 5, 2026.
Leo said the convict, who was the complainant’s boyfriend, stole her gold earrings and necklace while she was away on a trip.
He said the convict confessed during police investigations to selling the stolen items.
According to the prosecution counsel, the offence contravened the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.