COVID-19: Mobile court convicts 156 violators of lockdown in Niger
A Special Mobile Court sitting in Minna, Niger state has convicted another set of 156 persons for violating the lockdown order imposed by the state government to check the spread of COVID-19.
However, 15 other persons were discharged on the ground of them being minors, for reason of ill -health and delivery of essential services.
The suspects who were arrested by law -enforcement agents in different parts of Minna, include the driver of a trailer, carrying rice and 41 passengers from Kano to Lagos state and some other persons from Mokwa to Gombe state.
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Arraigning the suspects before the mobile court, the state counsel, Jibrin Alfa said the accused persons were charged in accordance with the Niger state COVID-19 Executive Order, 2020.
The mobile court session held at the Imani Junction, Shiroro and Trade Fare Complex in Minna, was jointly presided over by Magistrates Murtala Ibrahim and Halima Mohammed respectively.
The accused persons were sentenced to various jail terms ranging from 12 to one month in prison with option of fine ranging from N1, 000- N10, 000.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muhammad Makusidi has directed that violators of the lockdown order from others states be escorted by law- enforcement agents to the exit point of the state, stressing that they must go back to their state.
