Twenty four persons have been convicted for violating COVID-19 regulations in the Federal Capital Territory.
Three beer parlours which violated the regulations were also sealed.
The regulations were made by Presidential Order, pursuant to Section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. 02, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Idayat Akanni, Magistrate of an FCT mobile court which convicted the violators, awarded N2,000 fine each to the 24 defaulters that pleaded guilty with an option of one-day community service in any of the government facilities.
Three other alleged violators who pleaded not guilty are to appear before Magistrate court Wuse zone II on Friday, Aug. 21.
The prosecutor, Udeme Umanah, who read the charges before the COVID-19 regulation defaulters arrested at Pana village in Utako district, said the offences bordered on violation of the dusk-to-dawn curfew.
Umanah also said that the offences were violation of ban on social gatherings and the violation of compulsory wearing of face masks when appearing in public.
He said, “The court tried them and convicted them, except for three who denied liability.
“Those that pleaded guilty are to pay a fine of 2,000 or go for one-day community service, also three beer parlours have been sealed off for four days.”
He said, “We want to remind FCT residents that the COVID-19 regulations are very much in place. People should know that the curfew that starts from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am daily is also in place.”
The police spokesman asked beer parlours and restaurants to adhere to the guidelines.
Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Task Team on COVID-19, Ikharo Attah, advised FCT residents to comply with the safety guidelines.
“Most of the people are thinking that the issue of COVID-19 is over, but it’s not; the fight against the pandemic is still on, so we must strictly adhere to the rules.
“We in the FCT are law-abiding because the guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 have not been lifted; people must understand that the protocols are in place.
“Restaurants, beer parlours and drinking joints are not allowed to operate. It is because of these violations that the defaulters in Pana village have been arrested,” he said.
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