A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, sentenced a 29-year-old man, Sunday John, to three months imprisonment for stealing iron rods.
The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave the convict an option of N10, 000 fine.
Sadiq said that the conviction would serve as deterrent to others, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
John who resides at Jabi Daki-biu, Abuja, was convicted on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.
The convict, who pleaded guilty to the charges, begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Florence Avhioboh, had told the court that one Idris Sale, of Jabi, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station, Abuja, on Feb. 10.
Avhioboh said that John trespassed through the fence to the house of the complainant and stole 18 pieces of rods, valued at N50, 000 and a Mikano generator battery.
The prosecutor said that the defendant was caught in the process of committing the crime.
He said that during police investigation, the defendant confessed to the crime and the items were recovered.
According to him, the offences contravened Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.