A Magistrate Court has sentenced three men to a nine-week jail term each after they were found guilty over an offence of assault on a road traffic officer in Kano State.
The court sentenced the offenders, Sanni Said, Ma’arazu Sani and Suwedi Mohammed, who were arraigned on a three-count bordering on assault, to the jail terms with options of fines, after they were adjudged to have assaulted the victim of the Federal Road Service Corp, FRSC, and obstructed the agencies operatives from performing their duties during a routine enforcement exercise and inciting members of the public against officers carrying out lawful duties.
The sentence was informed in a circular released by the Public Education Officer of the FRSC of the Kano State Command, Abdulahi Labaran, on Thursday, disclosing that they were arrested on July 10, after which they were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Tundun Wada Division, for investigation and prosecution.
The statement also held that the trio pleaded guilty to charges of criminal conspiracy, obstructing public servants in discharge of their duties and assaulting servants with threats to public servants with threats to cause injury.
“The Court convicted the three offenders under Sections 96, 148 and 263 of the Penal Code and sentenced each of them to three weeks’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦30,000 for criminal conspiracy; one month’s imprisonment or a fine of ₦40,000 for obstructing public servants on lawful duties; and two weeks’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦20,000 for assault on public servants and threats to cause injury,” the statement read.
The court also informed the convicts of their right to appeal the judgment within 30 days.
Reacting to the judgment, the Sector Commander, Idris Lawal, commended the judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force for ensuring the prosecution of the offenders.
He warned that anyone who obstructs or assaults FRSC personnel carrying out lawful duties would be prosecuted in accordance with the law and urged members of the public to cooperate with road safety officials