Adamawa Teen Jailed for Stealing Soft Drinks on His Birthday Gets Sentence Reduced to Community Service

An 18-year-old boy in Adamawa State who admitted stealing soft drinks to celebrate his birthday has had his jail term reduced to community service by the state’s Jail Delivery Committee.

The teenager, Aminu Abdulazeez from Bazza in Michika Local Government Area, confessed that he took half a crate of Nutri Milk and half a crate of Dudu soft drinks so he could mark his birthday with friends. He was arrested shortly afterwards while making further preparations for the celebration.

Aminu had been convicted at the Area Court I in Bazza and handed a three-month jail sentence with an option of a ₦40,000 fine. He was transferred to the Mubi Correctional Centre last month after failing to pay the fine.

During a review visit to the facility, the Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee — led by Chief Judge Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman — reassessed his case and replaced the custodial sentence with three months of community service.

The committee ordered that he be returned to Bazza to carry out sweeping duties at a public facility, such as a health centre or police station, for the duration of the new sentence.