Court Fines, Orders Mandatory Isolation Of 2 Egyptians For Violating Restriction Order In Ekiti
No fewer than twelve persons, including two Egyptian nationals, were on Wednesday, convicted by a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, for violating Ekiti state movement restriction order.
The court found the duo of Mohammed Mustapha and Mahmud Ahmed, guilty of the two count charges preferred against them by the state government for violating the directive meant to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the state.
Their offence contravened the provisions of Ekiti State Coronavirus (Prevention of Infection) Regulations, 2020 made pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act, Cap Q2, LFN, 2004, and were fine accordingly for violating the stay at home order by the state government.
“On the 1st day of April, 2020 at Fajuyi Area within the Ado-Ekiti Magistrate District did violate the Provision of Regulation 2 (1) (b) punishable under Regulation 12 of the Provisions of Ekiti State Coronavirus (Prevention of Infection) Regulations, 2020 made pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act, Cap Q2, LFN, 2004.
“On about the 1st day of April 2020 at Fajuyi Area within Ado-Ekiti Magistrate District, did without lawful excuse drive Rav 4, Car contrary to and punishable under Section 202 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
Mohammed Mustapha and Mahmud were both fine N2,500 each on count one and count two, totalling N10,000.
Delivering his judgment, Chief Magistrate, Mr. Abdullamid Lawal, said both defendants are reasonably suspects and should be kept in mandatory isolation for 14 days.
He said one of them, Mustapha, gave evidence in court that he came into the state this morning April 1, 2020 from Ilorin, Kwara State.
Others who were fined for acts of violations of the restriction order of the state government include two blood brothers Oladapo Oyinlade and Matthew Oyinlade, for riding on motorcycle, during the stay at home order.
They are pay N2,500 each on count one and N2,500 on count two, totalling N10,000.
One Ogundana Gbenga, who was discharge, was, however, told to produce evidence and his identity, because of his plea that he assisted someone who wanted to go and buy medicine for a sick person when he was arrested.
Sunday Ani, was also fined N1,000 for each of the two count charge. He is to pay N2000 as fine to government for violating the restriction order of the state on Covid-19.
Magistrate Lawal, said Ani valued a dog more than the life of human being for choosing to buy drug for a sick dog sick and disobey the order of the state government.
The Director of Public Prosecution was represented by Mr. Julius Odugbemi and assisted by Oyeyemi Omolayo and Kunle Adeyemo, from the state Judiciary.
