- Teenager convicted for stealing soft drinks to celebrate his birthday.
- Court in Bazza sentenced him to 3-months or N40,000 fine.
- He couldn’t pay, so he served jail time before sentence review.
- Judgement later changed to 3-months community service.
An 18-year-old boy, Aminu Abdulazeez, has admitted to stealing crates of Nutri Milk and Dudu mineral drinks in Bazza, Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, all in an attempt to celebrate his birthday with friends.
Aminu reportedly carried out the theft in preparation for the celebration, but his plan was short-lived. He was trailed, caught, and later charged before Area Court I, Bazza, where he was found guilty and sentenced to three months imprisonment, with an option of a ₦40,000 fine.
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However, he was transferred to the Mubi Correctional Centre after failing to pay the fine.
During a review visit by the Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee, which oversees cases of detainees awaiting reconsideration, Aminu repeated his confession in front of officials.
The panel, led by the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, reconsidered his sentence and approved an alternative punishment that would allow him to serve outside prison.
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“After review, the committee reduced his sentence to three months of community service,” the Chief Judge declared during the session.
Under the new order, Abdulazeez will return to Bazza where he is expected to sweep public places, a health centre or a police station, over a three-month duration in place of jail time.
The case has sparked conversations on whether the initial punishment was too severe for youth-related petty theft, especially one tied to a birthday celebration.
