Man Sentenced to 15 Cane Strokes for Stealing Phones During Church Service

A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court has sentenced 23-year-old Kingsley Timothy to 15 strokes of the cane for stealing two phones worth N650,000 inside a church.

Timothy, who lives in Narayi, Kaduna, admitted to the two-count charge of theft and begged the court for mercy.

Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel ordered the punishment and urged him to “be of good behaviour.”

He also warned that the court “would not be lenient with him next time.”

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the case was reported by Richard Samuel of Christ Life Ministry on November 15.

He said Timothy stole a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and an Infinix phone, both valued at N650,000, while they were charging in the church.

According to Leo, the suspect was caught after the theft and handed over to the police.

He said the offence violated Section 217 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.