Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has fined the Manager of Prodest Hotel, Eleme, BARILEDUM JOB the sum of 50 thousand naira for violating the Executive Order of Governor Nyesom Wike on hotel closure.
Senior Magistrate RITA OGUGUO while delivering her judgment also ordered that BARILEDUM JOB should be sent to the isolation center at Elekahia for 14 days.
The Senior Magistrate also directed that BARILEDUM JOB should undergo a coronavirus test to ascertain his COVID-19 status.
The Court said BARILEDUM JOB was convicted after contravening paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Executive Order number seven of the State Government under the Quarantine Regulations.
However, the counsel to BARILEDUM JOB, Godwin Awi was absent during the court proceedings.
The Manager of Prodest Hotel had insisted on seeing his lawyer, but the lawyers of the state government said Godwin Awi had sent a text message withdrawing himself from the case.
In the meantime, GODWIN AWI, the lawyer to the Manager of Prodest Hotel, BARILEDUM JOB said he was absent in court because of the inability of legal practitioners to get a pass as essential service providers during the lockdown.
GODWIN AWI said he will meet with his client to know his next line of action.
Also speaking, a human right lawyer, EUGENE ODEY said the court was wrong to convict the manager of Prodest Hotel in the absence of his lawyer.
EUGENE ODEY said every suspect has the right to a lawyer in the court of law.
