Laleye Dipo in Minna
An ex-Police Inspector who served in the Niger State Police Command, Yahaya Mohammed, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for theft and sale of AK-47 magazines and ammunition.
Chief Magistrate Fati Hassan handed down the sentence to the former policeman after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft of AK-47 magazine and unlawful dealing in the sale of AK-47 and ammunition contrary to Sections 97(2) and 288 (1) of the penal code and 27 (6) (111) of the Act.
The Chief Magistrate, however, gave the convict an option of N100,000 fine because of his ill health.
The prosecution had told the court that the police obtained classified information from the Directorate of State Service (DSS) that some unknown persons were transporting some goods suspected to be arms and ammunition in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag, as the police swung into action leading to the arrest of the convict in Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
The goods, according to the prosecution, were meant for sale to bandits in the local government area.
According to the prosecution, the convict was of the department of operations and second in command of the Police Armoury in Minna, who conspired with one Ndana Gana, the officer in-charge of the Police Armoury in Minna to commit the crime.
The duo, it was said, conspired and took away 22 magazines and 61 live ammunition of different calibre being the property of the Niger State Police Command.
Chief Magistrate Hassan expressed disappointment at the conduct of the ex-policeman, saying it is unfortunate that someone employed to protect the law is the one caught breaking the law, as he added that “if not for your ill health, I would have sentenced you without an option of fine.
“It is quite unfortunate that as a police officer that your duty is to protect the lives and property of the citizens, but you are now engaging in selling ammunition to bandits that are terrorising and killing innocent citizens across the country.
“I will be lenient with you by convicting you with an option of fine as a result of the contagious disease based on the medical report attached to the Police First Information Report.”
The Chief Magistrate, therefore, directed that the convict be served the sentence at the Chanchaga Leprosarium if he could not pay the N100,000 fine.
It was, however, learnt that the second suspect in the case is now at large.
