The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) has today arraigned three persons before the Agency’s Environmental Mobile Court for negligence and releasing animals roaming about and destroyed trees planted by the Agency along Sam Njoma Street New GRA Bauchi.
The three persons Pauline Anozie(F) Christian Nwankwo (M) and Abdulkareem Mohammed (M) all of Sam Njoma Street New GRA Bauchi were arraigned and accused of releasing their animals, roaming about and destroyed about fourty numbers of trees planted by the Agency last March during the celebration of World Forestry Day.
The Prosecutor asked the court to compel the dependents to compensate the Agency, the fourty seedlings destroyed by the Animals, the cost of replanting, pay the money spent for two months watering of the trees and to also compensate the Agency the money spent on feeding their arrested stray animals.
The offences contravened section Section 5, sub section 2a, Paragraph 4, punishable under section 34 sub section 2 and section 46 of the Bauchi State Environmental laws 2017.
In her ruling, the presiding judge sentenced them to two Months Imprisonment each at the Bauchi Correctional Facility or option of fine of N3500 each, they are also to pay the sum of four thousand Naira for the destroyed trees and another four thousand labour, for replanting of the trees and the cost of watering as the Agency applied.
Briefing the newsmen after the judgement, the Director General of the Agency Dr Ibrahim Kabir MNES, FSEPH, FIICA, MISPON, (Maga Yakin Cheledi) the culprits released their animals roaming about and on the cause, destroyed trees planted by the Agency along Sam Njoma Street, which is an offence and punishable according to BASEPA law.
According to him, the arrest of the animals, arraignment and the prosecution of the owners shows how the Agency consider trees and it was also meant to serve as deterrent to others as not to negligently allow their animals roaming the streets and destroying not only trees but people’s properties and sometimes causes accidents and other inconveniences.
He also used the occasion to call on the general public to desist from neglect release of animals and frowned that anyone found wanting will not be spared,as the law is no respecter to anyone and urged them to continue supporting the Agency to deliver its mandates of keeping the state clean and the environment protected.
The legal adviser of the Agency Barr Haruna Ibrahim said he is happy with the judgement and hope it will serves as deterrent to others for the overall betterment of all.
Recall that, the Agency on Tuesday, during its routine surveillance patrol at Sam Njoma street New GRA Bauchi some arrested stray animals, belonging to the above culprits, roaming about and destroying trees planted by the Agency.
Isyaka Laminu Badamasi
SA Media DG BASEPA
2022.
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