By Lucky Isibor,
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin branch, Tuesday, April 28, defended 5 persons who were accused of violating movement restriction ordered by the Edo State government, to checkmate the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
The 5 suspects- Success Peters(32); Peace Doonior(25); Tunde Mustapha(40) and two others were among persons arrested by the Edo State Police Command, Monday for violating the order.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting state counsel, Orobosa Okunbor, the first and only prosecution witness, Linda, a police officer attached to Ugbekun Division of Edo state police command said three of the suspects were arrested while driving on the highway around 7:55p.m. while the two others were arrested inside a brothel located at Erediuwa street, off Upper Sokponba Road, Benin City, at around 8:00pm.
She told the court that the offence contravened the movement restriction order put in place by the Edo State government. All the defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against them.
In a well considered ruling at the end of a no case submission by the defence counsels led by the chairman of the NBA Task Force on Human Rights Violation during the Covid-19 lock down, Matthew Edaghese; the presiding magistrate, Chief Magistrate Okunrobo discharged the two ladies arrested in a guest house at Erediuwa street while noting that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against Tunde Mustapha and the two others allegedly arrested while driving along the highway and called on them to enter defence.
Giving his judgment at the end of the defence by the defendants and address by the defence counsel and prosecuting counsel, the magistrate convicted the defendants and sentenced them to a one day community service for three hours to sweep the premises of Urhokpota hall on Ring road, Benin City or pay a fine of three thousand Naira.
