Citing various authorities, the presiding magistrate said in the determination of criminal cases, three key considerations including “self admission, oral evidence and circumstantial evidence” were taken into cognisance.
Delivering the sentences, the Magistrate said that criminal conspiracy offence under Section 96 attracts six months imprisonment, or an option of fine or with both adding that intimidation offence in the Penal Code Law attracts two years imprisonment and an option of fine or with both.
For housebreaking, according to Section 346, is one-year imprisonment, an option of fine or with both, theft five years imprisonment, an option of fine or with both and mischief, according to Section 326 of the Penal Code, is two years imprisonment, an option of fine or with both.”
She, therefore, fined all six defendants a total of N125, 000 representing N25,000 each and six months imprisonment in default of the payment of the fine. He said the sentences are to run concurrently.
The court in the judgement however discharged and acquitted the seventh defendant in the case on account of being a minor when he gave evidence