A total of 250 persons in Akwa Ibom have been convicted by the mobile court set up to enforce the restriction of movement order during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown by the state government.
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, who had on April 15, 2020 extended the lockdown for the prevention of coronavirus pandemic to April 30 to curtail the spread of the disease set up mobile courts and appointed magistrates for the three Senatorial Districts in the state.
But Hon. Godwin Abraham, the state Chief Judge inaugurated the courts across the three senatorial districts in the state to enforce the extension period order and try offenders of the Quarantine and Restriction of Movement order by the state government.
Speaking in Comfort 95.1 FM, Uyo on Monday, May 4, Mr. Uwem Nwoko said the courts have convicted 250 persons in the state in the past two weeks.
Nwoko who is the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice further stated that the courts generated more than N250,000 fines and penalties from defaulters of the order.
He said though the governor has been compassionate in renewing the order on the restriction of movement to open up the economy, the lockdown is still in force.
The markets are to open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. To 4 p.m each day; curfew starts from 8 p.m to 6 a.m each day while a ban on religious activities, burials, and other social activities is still in force.
The Commissioner for Justice advised people to adhere to the restrictions directives, saying “If you do not have important to do, stay away and safe. Put on your face mask and maintain social distancing order.”
