An Upper Sharia Court One in Zaria on Wednesday sentenced one Salmanu Abubakar to three-months jail term for begging falsely on behalf of a mosque.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar, a resident of Abubakar Gumi Road, Funtua in Katsina State was, however, given an option of N3, 000 fine.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Ibrahim Husseini, said that Abubakar was arrested at the Sabon-Gari Local Government Secretariat mosque begging people to donate money "for the sake of Allah" towards a mosque-building project in his area.

He said that luck ran out for the accused as some people in the mosque identified him as a dupe going from mosque to mosque, deceiving people and collecting money from them.

Hussaini said Abubakar was questioned by the people but could not give satisfactory account of himself.

The act, according to the prosecutor, is contrary to section 368 of the Sharia Penal code.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.

Delivering judgment, the Judge, Mohammed Gaudo-Ahmed, said: "You have pleaded guilty and therefore sentenced to three months jail term or an option of fine of N3, 000."

He also warned the convict against committing the same or similar offence over the next 12 months. (NAN)