Four people have been arraigned before an Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Magistrate’s Court for disobeying an order of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the closure of the country’s borders with neighbouring countries.
The accused persons have been charged with importing 388 bags of banned foreign rice into Nigeria contrary to an order by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The accused persons-James Eke, Koko Simeon , Zayol Nathaniel and Achi Richard-in a suit numbered MAB\ 805c\ 2019 were charged with conspiracy and disobedience of lawful orders of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the two-count charge, the accused persons committed the offences on November 9, 2019 along Afikpo road in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The accused persons thereby committed offences punishable under Sections 517(a) and 203 of the Criminal Code Volume 1 cap 33 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
The charge read in part: ” That you James Eke, Koko Simeon , Zayol Nathaniel and Achi Richard on 9th day of November, 2019, along Afikpo road, Abakaliki, did without lawful excuse, disobey orders of the Executive President and Commander- in – Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by importing 388 bags of foreign rice into Nigeria and thereby committed offences punishable under Sections 517 (a) and 203, both of the Criminal Code Volume 1 cap 33 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”
The presiding Magistrate, Ruth Okeh, however, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate also ruled that the sureties must be civil servants on grade level 14, who must be resident and work within the jurisdiction of the court. The sureties must also deposit letters of identification from their employers as well as two affidavit of means.
But the accused persons were taken back to the Abakaliki branch of the Nigeria Correctional Service for their inability to meet their bail conditions.
