Mobile Court Convicts Six In Enugu

Six persons have been convicted by a mobile court in Enugu, the capital city of Enugu state for violating traffic light laws.

The convicts are Ogu Chinedu, Udengene Benjamin, Anike Chukwuma and Oluchukwu Okwoanoso. Others are Ekwe Christian and Madueke Arinze.

Prosecution witness, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Emma Akpa had told the court sitting at the New Haven Junction, Enugu that the convicted persons were arrested at various traffic points in the Enugu metropolis which included, Nkpokiti junction, Artisan Road, Market Road and the New Haven Junction, for refusing to obey the traffic light thereby committing an offence against Section 9 of the Traffic Regulations in Chapter 137 of the Laws of Enugu State.

All the six persons pleaded guilty to the offence charged while two others who were arrested for the same offence Ben Ehi and Ralph Ikea pleaded not guilty.

Delivering judgment after the summary trial, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr Onwu Eni Dominic ordered the convicts to pay a fine of N5,000 each into the coffers of the state government before they could gain freedom and have their impounded vehicles released to them.

He also ordered those who pleaded not guilty to be remanded in custody with bail set at N50,000 along with a surety of the status of a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the trial, Chief Magistrate Onwu stated that the essence of the court was to instill discipline among motorists in the state, adding that the law has no provision for sentencing offenders to jail terms.

He advised drivers to obey the traffic regulations of the state in order to avoid the wrath of the law.