Shari’ah Court Jails Businesswoman Nine Months for Cheating Partners

A Shari’ah court sitting in Rigasa, Kaduna, has sentenced a businesswoman, *Maimuna Muhammad*, to nine months’ imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to cheating, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Malam Muhammad Adamu, said the sentence would run three months for each offence. He, however, gave the option of a fine of ₦7,000 per count.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Sambo Maigari, the case was filed by two of Muhammad’s business partners. The court heard that the defendant usually collected foodstuffs such as rice and beans from one partner on credit, which she processed, sold, and repaid later. She also collected bedsheets and curtains from the second partner under similar arrangements.

Maigari explained that Muhammad later defaulted on repayment, gave excuses, and eventually relocated from her residence in Rigasa to Maraban Jos to evade her creditors.

The court ordered the convict to refund ₦350,000** for the rice and beans collected from Rabi’atu Muhammad, in addition to ₦10,000 compensation for filing the suit. Similarly, she was directed to pay ₦162,000 to the second complainant for the bedsheets and curtains, along with another ₦10,000 compensation

Judge Adamu stressed that the ruling was to ensure justice for the complainants and serve as a deterrent against breach of trust in business dealings.