70-Year-Old Man Sentenced to Six Months for Stealing Mosque Mats in Kaduna

70-Year-Old Man Sentenced to Six Months for Stealing Mosque Mats in Kaduna

A Shari’a Court in Rigasa, Kaduna, has sentenced 70-year-old Jibril Musa to six months in prison for stealing mats from two mosques.

The presiding judge, Malam Mukhtar Aliyu, handed down the sentence on Thursday after Musa pleaded guilty to charges of criminal trespass and theft. The judge noted that Musa had previously appeared before the court for a similar offense and was released on the condition that he would not steal again.

Despite Musa’s plea for leniency, promising not to steal in the future, the court dismissed his request due to his repeated criminal history.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Sambo Maigari, informed the court that the village head of Rigasa, Aminu Al-hassan, reported the theft to the Rigasa Police Division on Sept. 9. Musa had stolen mats from a mosque on Dan Galadima Road and another mosque in the Bakin Dogo area. The stolen mats were sold to one Aisha Abdullahi.

Abdullahi told the court she purchased the mats for N1,500, unaware they were stolen. She pleaded for leniency, emphasizing her reputation as an honest businesswoman and expressing disbelief that an elderly man like Musa would steal.

The judge adjourned Abdullahi’s case until Sept. 18, when a decision on her involvement will be made.