Kaduna court sentences man to 18 months in prison for stealing girlfriend’s ₦860,000 jewellery

A 32-year-old man, Kenneth James, has been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by a magistrates’ court in Kaduna State for stealing his girlfriend’s jewellery worth ₦860,000.

James pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of stealing before Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, who handed down the sentence on Wednesday, with an option of a ₦50,000 fine.

The magistrate also ordered the convict to refund ₦860,000 to the complainant, identified as Miss Vivian Gideon. He warned that James would serve an additional 10 months in prison if he failed to repay the money.

Emmanuel cautioned James against committing further offences after serving his sentence and urged him to be of good behaviour and abide by the law.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that Gideon reported the case at Gabasawa Police Station on October 5, 2026.

Leo said James, who was the complainant’s boyfriend, stole her gold earrings and necklace while she was away on a trip.

The prosecutor added that the convict confessed during police investigations to selling the stolen jewellery.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the offence contravenes the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.