by Adeola Balogun

A female cashier in Abuja has been sentenced to spend the next 14 years in prison after being convicted of theft.

Mariam Salifu, 22, was yesterday sentenced to the term of imprisonment by an Abuja Magistrate Court,  for stealing  a sum of N3.15 million from her employers.

The convict, originally resident  at the Karimo area of the FCT, was charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust and theft. She had earlier admitted to absconding with the money.

According to reports, the Magistrate, Hajiya Fati Tafida, sentenced Salifu without an option to pay fine. She ordered that the convict be imprisoned at the Federal Prisons, Suleija, for 14 years to serve as deterrent to others. Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Phillip Appolos, had told the court that one Christopher Nwozor of Life Camp, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on August 19.

He said that the accused, who is a cashier at C.C. Royal Fishing, was told to deposit N3.15 million into the company’s account in Diamond Bank at Wuse Zone 2. Appolos said that the accused absconded with the money on August 17, to an unknown destination, instead of depositing it.

The prosecutor said that Salifu was subsequently, arrested in Lokoja, following police investigation.