An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ court, in Life Camp, has sentenced 14 hawkers to two weeks in prison each for disobeying police order.
They are Ifeanyi Kingsley, Godwin Suswan, Stephen Monday, Davidson Uche, Samuel Elah, Ameobi Kalu and Collins Ogheleye.
The others are Chinwechi Chukwu, Asohera Uzoma, Thomas Bonfert, Joshua Arifuzo, Chibike Odenigbo, Usman Mohammed and Hamisu Mohammed.
Senior Magistrate Zubairu Mohammed convicted the accused, all of no fixed address, after they pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of joint act and disobeying order.
Although, each of them pleaded for the mercy, they were sentenced to two weeks in prison each with an option of N1,000 fine.
Mohammed said they had to be punished to serve as a deterrent to others who might likely commit similar offence.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Salihu Mohammed, told the court that a team of police detectives, led by Supol Joseph Alobo from the Police Division in Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja, arrested them on April 24.
Mohammed said they were arrested for obstructing members of the public’s access to Setraco Junction along Kubwa Express way, Abuja.
He said that the divisional police officer at Gwarinpa Police Station gave several notifications and warnings to hawkers to vacate the location.
The prosecutor said the accused disobeyed the officer’s orders. (NAN)
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