BASEPA Mobile Court sentences two for environmental law violation.

By Maisaje Wakili:

The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Mobile Court has sentenced two residents of Rafin Zurfi in Bauchi Local Government Area, Mr. Michael Aben and Mr. Wise Man, to two weeks imprisonment, with an option of N30,000 fine each, for violating environmental laws.

Delivering the judgment, Magistrate Laraba Hamisu of the Bauchi State Sanitation and Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) Mobile Court said the defendants contravened Section 36, Subsection (1) of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Law, 2017.

Magistrate Laraba said the convicts have the right to appeal the judgment at the Bauchi State High Court.

She explained that the sentence, which followed the defendants’ plea for leniency, was intended to serve as a deterrent to others and encourage compliance with environmental regulations.

In a related development, the court ordered that residents of unguwar Kur who were earlier served with appearance notices for obstructing stormwater channels but failed to appear should be reserved with fresh notices.

The court stressed that the blockage of drainage channels remains a major contributor to flooding and environmental degradation across the state.