Taraba court sentences airport thief to two and half years imprisonment

The Taraba State High Court sitting in Jalingo, the state capital, has sentenced Festus Edward from Jauroyinu in Ardo Kola local government council of the state to two years and six months in prison for theft and criminal conspiracy, with an option of a ₦250,000 fine.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday in criminal case No. TRSJ/2C/2022, the Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, said Edward was found guilty of participating in the vandalism and theft of government property at the Danbaba Suntai Airport in Jalingo.

Agya recalled that Edward, along with Ibrahim Malam-Gaji, Abdurahaman Ahmed, and Yahaya Adamu, were charged with theft, criminal conspiracy, and mischief over the vandalization of parts of the airport and the theft of 15 iron poles, which they attempted to transport in a Mitsubishi van.

The court heard that the suspects, arrested on October 30, 2021, also damaged 20 pieces of airfield lighting cables, measuring 4,000 meters and valued at N61 million, all belonging to the State Government.

Justice Agya noted that Edward’s extra judicial confession to the police was voluntary and detailed, confirming that he planned and executed the theft with two other accomplices, Luka Peter and Monday Frances, who remain at large, at the time of the judgement.

The judge ruled that the conviction was based on voluntary confession, substantial evidence, and eyewitness testimony.

However, Justice Agya discharged and acquitted the second, third, and fourth defendants, declaring them victims of circumstance, as the prosecution failed to prove their involvement beyond reasonable doubt.

While Edward’s counsel pleaded for leniency, the judge sentenced him to six months for criminal conspiracy and two years for theft, to run consecutively.

Counsel to the acquitted defendants, Bilyaminu Bakoji, commended the Chief Judge for his thorough handling of the case and appealed for clemency for Edward, whom he described as a first time offender and the breadwinner of his family.

Taraba court sentences airport thief to two and half years imprisonment