FCTA prosecutes 43 persons for violation of protocols

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Taskforce on Enforcement of COVID-19 protocols has arraigned 43 persons before the mobile court at the Eagle Square, Abuja, for allegedly violating the Health Protection Regulation 2021, assented on January 26, 2021, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Presiding Magistrate, Idayat Akani, yesterday charged all the accused for gross violation of the regulation by failing to put on face masks in public to mitigate further spread of the disease.

Speaking to journalists during the court sitting, Head of the Taskforce Public Enlightenment arm, Ikharo Attah, revealed that some of the violators were arrested and sent in for prosecution by the Divisional Police Officers from the Area Councils.

He admonished the people to always comply with the guidelines, warning that his men would not hesitate to arrest violators and make them face the law squarely.

While reassuring the people on the commitment of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to prevent the spread of the deadly pandemic in Abuja, Ikharo also stated that the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma, who chairs the FCT Committee on Enforcement of COVID-19 Regulation was always willing to deploy his men to enforce the presidential regulation on COVID-19.

He disclosed that three of the accused were released because they were minors, while two were granted bail.

Other violators, who had money, immediately paid different categories of fines, ranging from N2,000 to N3000.

The rest were made to carry out community services by sweeping the streets in Abuja depending on their degree of violation.