A Mobile Court in the Federal Capital Territory FCT has shut down Abuja’s most popular trading zones, Wuse market, the UTC and the Murg shopping Plazas for violating the Presidential regulations on COVID-19. This was as the court also convicted over 100 persons who were arrested for not wearing face-masks in public places. The court presided by Magistrate Idayat Akanni fined the violators N2,000 each, with an option of two weeks community service.
According to her, the convicts were given lesser penalties because they were first offenders. On his part, Head, Media and Enlightenment of FCTA COVID-19 Enforcement team, Ihkaro Attah, said with the gross violations at the trading zones, no responsible government would sit idly by and not impose sanctions. Attah said that the Presidential regulations specifically stated that management of public business facilities should take full responsibility of enforcing the COVID-19 regulations, but that these markets defaulted in all aspects.
According to him, the market and plazas disregarded the guidelines and did not make provision for the health safety requirements. He added that the court has said the shut down order can only be vacated when the management of the facilities comply with the regulations. He said, “the Presidential Regulations has given our enforcement team the teeth to bite and the FCT Minister has also given his backing for the full implementation of the Presidential regulations”.
