Thief sentenced to amputation
2006-07-21 15:22
Abuja - An Islamic court on Friday ordered the amputation of the right hand of a trader in Bauchi, north-east Nigeria, for stealing a cellphone and other items.
Mu'azu Sani was found guilty of snatching a cellphone handset belonging to Hajiya Rahina in the town's Muda Lawal market.
He also confessed that he broke into the shop of Ejike Orazuke, of Bayanri Quarters in Bauchi, on July 03, and took a television set and other appliances.
Delivering judgment, Judge Mallam Musa Ahmed said he was satisfied with the confession of the accused and ordered the amputation.
However, he gave the convict 30 days within which to appeal against the verdict.
The strict Islamic code was introduced in 14 of the 19 predominantly Muslim northern states of Nigeria in 2000.
It recommended amputation for theft, caning for consumption of alcohol and stoning to death for adultery.
In Bauchi State, the Sharia legal code pegged $15.2 as the minimum value of any stolen property for which a convict would be sentenced to amputation.
Sapa-dpa
- SAPA