BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
SOME top directors of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), on Wednesday, allegedly abandoned their cars and scaled the fence at a promotional examination centre to evade arrest by the Federal Capital Territory COVID-19 Enforcement Team.
The enforcement team had stormed the venue of the NSITF promotional examination, following a tip-off by some members of staff that the exercise was going on without regard for laid down COVID-19 regulations, despite the crowd that had gathered there.
Head, Media and Enlightenment of the Team, Ikharo Attah, disclosed that, on getting to M and M Event Centre, Area 11, Garki, where the crowd had gathered from across the country for the exercise, the Union prevented the team from arresting anyone.
He said they argued that they had obtained clearance from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 but could not produce the evidence.
Attah, however, confirmed that one person was arrested while other top directors took to their heels and abandoned their cars.
He said the fleeing directors would be tracked and prosecuted, expressing disappointment that a frontline government agency could be flouting the rules in that manner.
He said, “We got a complaint from some of the staff of NSITF that the exercise was going on without any regard for the Presidential regulations, that was why we stormed the place.
“On arrival at M and M Event Centre, Area 11, Garki, we discovered that NSITF has gathered its staff from different states across the country for a promotional exam, without complying with COVID-19 guidelines.”
“They claimed PTF had approved the exercise, but could not produce any evidence, while the union leaders refused that our team should not arrest anyone. The top directors abandoned their cars, scaled through fence and escaped,” he noted.
THE POINT had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, a few days ago, signed the COVID-19 health protection regulations 2021 in Abuja.
The legal instrument of the regulations provides a basis for the prosecution of defaulters.
As provided in the Quarantine Act, Section 34 of the new law states that any offence under the regulations is punishable by a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both.
