Court Jails Two For Violating Law On Okada Operation In Enugu

AN Enugu Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate Ebere Udeze yesterday sentenced two motorcycles operators within Enugu State capital Eneje Jonathan and Ucha Friday to one year imprisonment each without option of fine.
The Magistrate in the judgment delivered after a summary trial held that Eneje and Ucha violated Enugu State Law 5 prohibiting motorcycle operators in Enugu Metropolis.
The third accused person Ogbonna Gabriel who pleaded not guilty of the charge preferred against him was granted bail, but to be reminded in prison custody pending the time he was able to produce a surety.
According to the trial Magistrate, the surety must be a civil servant of Enugu State on grade level 16 and will be required to pay one hundred thousand naira and deposit his two passport photographs with court.
Magistrate Udeze also said that the surety must produce the letter of last promotion before the accused will be granted bail and therefore a djourned the case till July 11, 2012 for further hearing.
Earlier, the Prosecuting Police Office, ASP Oluji had told the court that the three accused persons were arrested while operating
motorcycle at NOWAS Oil Filling Station roundabout Trans- Ekulu, Enugu East local government area in contravention of the law prohibiting such action in the state.

Governor Sullivan Chime had on Tuesday signed the law prohibiting motorcycle operation in the metropolis, less than one week after the draft bill was presented to the State House of Assembly for passage.

According to the governor, “ we’ve enacted the law whose primary goal is the protection of lives and property of our people. This exercise, effectively, bans the use of motorcycles, otherwise known as Okada within the Enugu metropolis.