By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Kwara State Government on Wednesday in Ilorin convicted three persons arrested for violating the lockdown order in the state.
The three offenders who where arraigned at the magistrate court where Amos Philips, Babangida Dontatin and Baraye Abel.
They were charged with three offences viz failure to comply with registration order imposed by the government, obstruction of a public servant carrying out his duty under the government restriction order and disobedient to order duly promulgated by public servants.
The offences are contrary to regulation 17 paragraphs (1)(i) and (iii) of the Kwara State infections diseases (emergency prevention) regulation 2020 and section 152(B) of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, ”On 14-4-2020, a a team of police operatives engaged in carrying out the restriction order of the Kwara state government aimed at controlling the spread of the covid-19 virus in the state… while on patrol at sawmill garage area accosted and arrested you (suspects) and timber machine operators of the area engaging in commercial activities in disobedience of the government directive restricting movement of people in the state”.
They all pleaded guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel, Sergeant Nasiru Yusuf urged the court to trial the defendants summarily since they have admitted to the offences.
”Fundamentally, admittance is settled and need not to be proved”, he added.
In his ruling, magistrate Bio Saliu said having failed to comply with the law on restriction of Kwara State on the covid-19 pandemic, the offenders ”are hereby convicted”
”You are sentenced to a month community service to sweep the High Court premises for one month beginning from tomorrow Thursday April 16th, 2020 under strict supervision of the security agencies”, Saliu submitted.
He added that flouting of the directive would not be tolerated by the court.
