No fewer than 156 residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have been prosecuted by the mobile courts, for violating the federal government lockdown policy to control the spread of coronavirus.
The Director of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services(DRTS), Wadata Aliyu Bodinga, who gave an update on the enforcement of the lockdown law, said that the mobile courts started sitting on Thursday 16th April in three different locations across the city. The locations include AYA, Dantata and Mpape.
He said that a total of 50 cases were prosecuted on the fist day out which 40 were convicted while 10 were discharged.
On the second and third days, Friday 17th and Sunday 19th, 40 were prosecuted with 29 convicted and eleven discharged; 66 were prosecuted with 48 convicted and 18 discharged respectively.
Wadata said that the trial involves pedestrians, motorists and motorcyclists caught violating the order.
He said that some of the convicts were fined various sums while others had their vehicles impounded and sentenced to community service.
The Director said that the objective of setting up the courts has been largely achieved as fewer people are now seen on the streets.
He noted that the idea of prosecuting violators was not aimed at punishing anyone but to discourage people from leaving their homes against medical advice to curtail the spread of COVID 19.
He appealed to residents to comply with the lock down order to avoid arrest and prosecution.
