by ‘Jola Sotubo

A beggar in Lagos has been sentenced to spend the next 7 years in prison after he was found guilty of attempted kidnap.

38-year-old Aminu Hamisu had already managed to lure the child in question out of the premises of a primary school but was spotted just in time by a neighbour.

The sentence was passed down by a senior Magistrate Court sitting in the Abule Egba area of the state.

Leadership reports:

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, said that the accused was found guilty of attempting to steal a child.

“You are thereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine, this will serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

The convict was arraigned on January 22. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail but he couldn’t meet the bail condition.

He is to serve his sentence at the Kirikiri Medium Prison.

Hamisu, who lives in an uncompleted building at Papa Uku Street in Agege, near Lagos was charged with attempting to commit a crime of child stealing.

The police prosecutor, Insp. Racheal Williams, said the accused who is physically challenged and begs for alms, committed the offence on January 16, at Olusanya Primary School, Agege.