At least 70 persons have been arraigned before two Magistrate Courts in Port Harcourt for violating Governor Nyesom Wike’s sit-at-home and border restriction orders in the state.
The suspects who are Northern indigenes were reportedly loaded in several heavy duty trucks heading for Zamfara state and were arrested by members of the state task force on border restrictions.
The drivers of the trucks reportedly came to supply food stuff to the state last week and decided to pick passengers who indicated interest to leave the state due to the effect of the lockdown imposed by the state government.
It was gathered that they were arrested on May 1, 2020 were arraigned on a one-count charge for violating the border-closure restrictions.
The suspects, however, pleaded guilty to the charge with drivers of the vehicles and their conductors fined from N10, 000 to N30, 000, while the passengers were fined between N2000 to N5000 each.
Chief Magistrate Ihua Madu-Enyi also ordered for the sum of N250, 000 to be paid before the trucks are released.
