By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A Magistrates’ Court in Jos has sentenced a 36-year-old security guard, Justice Terfa, to 18 months in prison for defrauding a woman of 30 day-old chicks and the money intended for their care.
Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos delivered the conviction on Wednesday after Terfa pleaded guilty to the charges. The court provided an option for a ₦30,000 fine or six months in jail, in addition to a ₦500,000 compensation to the victim. Failure to pay the compensation would result in an additional one-year prison sentence.
Prosecutor Inspector Ibrahim Gokwat informed the court that the case was reported to the Anglo-Jos Police Station on December 21, 2024, by the complainant, Anthonia Osirho.
According to Gokwat, the complainant had entrusted Terfa with 30 day-old chicks and ₦300,000 to cover their feeding and medical needs, with plans to rear the birds for the Christmas season. However, Terfa sold 29 of the chicks and misappropriated the funds for his own use.