Court jails 74-yr-old man for stealing from mosques

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A Shari’a Court in Rigasa, Kaduna, within the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has sentenced Jibril Musa, a 74-year-old man, to six months in prison for stealing mats from two mosques in the state.
The judge, Malam Mukhtar Aliyu handed down the sentence after Musa pleaded guilty to the criminal charges leveled against him by the prosecutor.
The court heard that the suspect was accused of criminal trespass and theft. When the case was heard on Thursday, the court was informed that this was not his first offense.
According to the judge, Musa had previously appeared before the court for a similar crime and was released on the condition that he would not commit theft again.
However, the judge, expressing frustration, said despite Musa’s plea for leniency, his previous record led to the dismissal of his appeal for a lighter sentence.
“I wonder why an old man would find pleasure in stealing from religious places. At his age, the mosque should be his second home where he seeks forgiveness rather than engaging in sinful acts.
“To uphold his appeal would be to provoke Almighty Allah’s displeasure, I hereby sentence him to six months, which he will serve in a correctional center”, he affirmed.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Sambo Maigari explained that Aminu Al-Hassan, the village head of Rigasa, reported the theft after Musa stole mats from a mosque on Dan Galadima Road and Bakin Dogo, both in Rigasa town.
It was gathered that Musa sold the mats to a businesswoman, Aisha Abdullahi, for the sum of N1,500.
But, in her defense, Abdullahi claimed ignorance, stating, “I had no idea the mats were stolen, especially from an elderly man like Musa. I’ve always been an honest businesswoman.”
She also requested leniency; however, the court adjourned her case to September 18 for judgment.