Elechi Defends New Okada Law

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State last Wednesday signed the “Use and Operations of Motorcycles in Ebonyi State and Related Matters” amended bill into law.

The law provides stiffer penalties for commercial motorcyclists who flout the law.

The law stipulates three months imprisonment or a N20,000 fine for any commercial motorcyclist caught operating on dual carriage roads in Abakaliki, the capital. It was passed by the State House of Assembly in May for the governor’s assent.

According to the law, owners of impounded motorcycles shall forfeit them if they failed to claim them within 30 days.  “Any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 6 of this law is guilty of an offence and liable to three months imprisonment or a fine of N20, 000,” it said.

It also empowers the state government with authority to auction such impounded motorcycles.

The original law which was first passed in 2009 prescribed N5,000 fine.

Elechi added that the law was made to combat criminal activities such as kidnapping and bank robbery being perpetuated in the city with impunity with the aid of motorcycles. “People are calling for outright ban on okada.

“However, when the House made the law, it considered the plight of the masses knowing that taxis and buses were not readily available to the poor people. “If not for these and other reasons, the house would have banned commercial motorcycles out rightly,” he said.