An Upper Area Court 4 sitting in Yola, Adamawa state on Friday convicted an 18-year-old Abubakar Mohammed a member of Shila groups that have been terrorizing residents of the state capital by snatching their cell phones.
The court sentenced the accused to 7 years in prison for extortion without option of a fine.
Abubakar of Rumde ward in Yola North Local Government Area was earlier arrested for extorting an infinix cell phone valued at N60,000 belonging to Himage Yayirus, of Nyako’s quarters in Yola North LGA on 22nd December 2021.
The convict was said to have snatched Himage’s phone at Doubeli T- Junction in Jimeta and zoomed into the forest along bypass’ forest unknown to him that somebody was defecating in the forest, who hurriedly tidied himself and joined the mob who arrested the convict and handed him over to Doubeli police station.
Upon his arraignment before the court by Sargent Kabiru Abubakar of Doubeli police station, the convict pleaded guilty to the count charge of extortion contrary to section 283 of the penal code law.
It was after his plea and tendering of the phone which was admitted in evidence during trial that the prosecutor, Sargent Kabiru, prayed the court for summary trial.
Delivering his ruling, the presiding judge, justice Hon. Ibrahim Musa Ulenda, said the accused was convicted under section 283 sub 2 of the penal code law.
According to the judge, the sentence will serve as a deterrent to others considering the nefarious activities of the Shila group and other crimes in society.
