Covid 19: Over 100 PH residents arraigned for violating Governor Wike’s curfew

…grant bail with N10,000 to N100,000

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

Over 100 hundred persons have been arraigned at the Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt over violation of the state government on 24-hour Curfew in some parts of the Port Harcourt.

A cross Section of over 100 persons arrested and arraigned before three especially constituted Magistrate Courts in Port Harcourt for contravening now suspended Curfew.

The suspects who were arrested by Police in different parts of the area since on Monday to Thursday were charged with three count charge of conspiracy, disobedient to Governors’ directive, street trading which has cause a breach of public peace and thereby committed an offence.

Three magistrates who presided over the cases, Dr Rita Oguguo, Chief Magistrate D.D. Ihua-Maduenyi and Senior Magistrate V E Nweke in their various Courts granted bail to the suspects.

The suspects who pleaded guilty were fined10,000 while those who pleaded not guilty were granted bail with 100,000 naira with two Sureties as their Sureties addresses be verified by the prosecutors. The case was adjourned the case to 6th of April for definite hearing.

The three count charge ,which read that you……,”and others now at large, on the 31st day of March 2020 at Diobu Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Disobedience to lawful order issued by constituted authority, following the directive of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for the prevention of the spread of Coronavirus pandemic and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 517A of the criminal code cap: 37, vol. 11 Law of Rivers state of Nigeria, 1999.

Count 2 states :”that you …… and others at large, following the order of Governor of Rivers state on the prevention of the spread of corona virus pandemic on the same date and place at the aforesaid Magisterial District did intentionally disobey the lawful order issued by the Governor of Rivers state on 24 hour restriction of movement from Education Bus stop to Agip Junction, Port Harcourt, wherein you went on trading, loitering and or engaging yourselves in other social activities prohibited by government within the said time and place and thereby committed on offence punishable under section 203 of the criminal code Law of Rivers state of Nigeria, 1999.”

Count 3: “that you…….. and others at large, following the order of Governor of Rivers state on the prevention of the spread of corona virus pandemic on the same date and place at the aforesaid Magisterial District did Intentionally disobey the lawful order issued by the Governor of Rivers state on twenty four hour restriction of movement from Education Bus stop to Agip Junction, Port Harcourt, wherein you went on trading, loitering and or engaging yourselves in other social activities prohibited by government within the said time and place in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under the section 249(d) of the criminal Code Law of Rivers state of Nigeria, 1999.

Speaking to one of the Counsels who handle a case in one of the courts, Izitoh Orokwo, said despite the suffering of the suspect, he commended the way the case was handed by the magistrate.

Meanwhile some families of those arrested narrated their ordeal of paying N10,000 and above before securing bail for their loved ones. They expressed displeasure in the arrest of their family, adding that the social distancing being canvased by government is played out in the court cell where more that 100 persons are been put together.

A Coalition of Rivers Civil Society Organisation accuse the Police and Judiciary for not observing Social Distancing while suspects were being prosecuted in Court.