Guard Jailed Six Months For Sleeping On Duty

A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Abuja on Monday sentenced a security guard, Nasiru Ribado, to six months imprisonment for sleeping at his duty post.

Ribado, 37, who resides at Jabi Forest, Abuja, was arraigned on a one-count charge of negligent conduct.

The presiding officer, Abubakar Sadiq, convicted Ribado after he pleaded guilty to the charge and ordered him to pay N363, 000 as restitution to the complainant.

Sadiq, who did not give the convict an option of fine, warned him against committing crimes after his prison term.


Earlier, the prosecutor, Mrs. Florence Auhioboh, told the court that one Nwankwo Chukwudi of Karmo, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on December 8.

Auhioboh said the complainant employed the convict to work as security guard in his spare part shop at Jabi Forest.

“The accused was expected to be on duty at the time the crime was committed but he deliberately abandoned his duty.

“The accused was sleeping and abandoned his duty post,  paving the  way for burglars to gain access into the complainant’s spare part shop,’’ she said.

The prosecutor told the court that the burglars made away with the complainant’s goods valued at N363, 000.

Auhioboh said all efforts by the police to recover the stolen items proved abortive.

According to her, the offence contravened Section 196 of the Penal Code and punishable under same.