The FCT Administration Mobile Court on Thursday sentenced 22 persons to one-week community service or pay a fine of N2,000 each for violation of COVID-19 Health Protection Protocols Act, 2021.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defaulters were arrested from different parts of the FCT and arraigned before the mobile court sitting at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
NAN also reports that after the one-count charge was read before the court presided by Magistrate Idayat Akanni, they all pleaded guilty and were fined N2,000 each or undertake a weeklong community service.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Udeme Umana, had informed the court that the affected persons were found not wearing facemasks and some of them who had one were not wearing it properly.
On his part, Ihkaro Attah, Head, Media and Enlightenment of the taskforce, reiterated that the taskforce would not relent to enforce strict adherence to the established health regulations.
Attah stated that the taskforce during its routine enforcement exercise that led to the arrest of the defaulters, had an evasion of arrest by a trader at Wuse Market.
He disclosed that the mobile court had issued an order for the arrest of the person at large to ensure justice was served.
Attah added that the Abuja Markets Management Ltd (AMML), managers of Wuse Market, had pledged to assist in the hunt for the defaulting trader that escaped arrest.
According to him, the Presidential Executive Order on COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations Act has given the taskforce the teeth to bite offenders.
He also said that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, and FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, have also mandated the taskforce to ensure full implementation of the COVID-19 regulations.
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