A convict on Tuesday pleaded with a judge in Abuja to reduce his jail term, saying,” I know I’m guilty.”

22-year-old Felix Okon was arraigned at a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja for threatening to kill his neighbour.

Okon, who resides at Idu Village in Abuja, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal intimidation and intentional insult and begged for leniency

He was sentenced to five-month imprisonment.

“I plead with this court to reduce my punishment, for I know I am guilty. I am so sorry for what I did. Please sir, temper justice with mercy,” Okon sobbed.

“Please sir, help me. I will not drink and be drunk again nor insult my neighbour,’’ he added.

The judge, Mr. Maiwa Inuwa, in his judgment, gave the convict an option of N8,000 fine.

Inuwa warned Okon to shun crime and stop insulting his elders, noting that the sentence would serve as a deterrence to others.

The prosecutor, Mrs. Ijeoma Ukagha, had told the court that the convict threatened to kill his 63-year-old neighbour, one Raymond Ekeoha, also of Idu Village.

Ukagha said that between February 2 and July 20, Okon insulted Raymond and members of his family without any cause.

She said that Okon also threatened to kill the complainant with a gun, noting that the offences contravened sections 399 and 397 of the Penal Code.

But following Okon’s plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict Okon summarily in line with Section 112 (8) of the Administration of Criminal Justices Act, 2015.

(NAN)