Holy Thief: Man imprisoned for stealing tithe

A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced one Augustine Bala, to one month of sweeping and cleaning of a church where he stole tithes.

The magistrate, Mrs Chinyere Nwacheonwu, handed down the sentence to Bala, 27, of Mpape, when he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge.

Bala pleaded guilty to the charge and begged for leniency and forgiveness.

“Please, my lord, have mercy on me, I have made a great mistake. I would have asked the church members for help instead of committing sin onto God,” Bala said.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Cpl. Emmanuel Adikwu, told the court that Bala stole N27,950 from the till of Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.

Adikwu said that Bala was caught by the security guard who reported the matter at the Maitama Police Station. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 288 of Penal Code.