By Christiana Ekpa
An area court in Bukuru, Jos South LGA of Plateau State has sentenced Gabriel Orupou (alias Alaye) to two years imprisonment and or N100,000 fine for destroying a billboard belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Orupou, a resident of Dadin Kowa, was found guilty of criminal conspiracy.
Delivering the sentence, the presiding judge, Hyacinth Dolnaan and Abdulahi Sadiq, also granted compensation in the sum of N400,000 as damages for the banners destroyed and a six-month jail term in the event of default.
Recall that the billboard bearing campaign messages of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was allegedly destroyed by Orupou on instructions of one Musa and Danlami (now at large) of Dadin Kowa who reportedly paid him the sum of N2,000 to pull down the billboard.
Speaking with journalists, after the judgment, the legal adviser to the PDP in Bassa LGA, Barrister John Amama said that the judgement delivered was indeed a victory for democracy.
Amama commended the Police for once again demonstrating that they are up and doing in upholding justice and fairness to all political parties by arresting the culprit.
He used the opportunity to call on youths not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs as there are consequences for such acts.
“I want to appeal to political parties to engage in issue-based campaigns rather than employing the services of thugs to destroy campaign materials of their political opponents.
“I want to commend the PDP in Plateau State for conducting itself in a very civilised manner by addressing the matter through legal channels rather than retaliating,” he said.
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