National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Olabode Adaramola
A Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Minna, Niger State, has on Tuesday
sentenced one Baba Abuja to 12 months imprisonment for contravening the Saharia law.
The accused person, was arrested and charged before Chief Magistrate
Abdullahi Usman for selling alcohol in a prohibited area of Paiko town in Paikoro Local Government of the state.
According to the sharia law, which came into effect in the state in 2002
, it is illegal for sale of alcohol in local government headquarters without obtaining the required permit.
However Chief Magistrate Usman gave the convict an option of N200,000 fine.
According to the Prosecution, the arrest was based on a petition by some residents of Paiko which was addressed to the State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, indicating that the sale and consumption of alcohol in the paiko town had constituted a serious security threat to the people.
The prosecution said the governor directed the chairman of the Liqour
Board, Barrister Yahaya Halidu, to commence investigation of the petition which led to the arrest of the convict.
When the charge was read to Baba Abuja , he admitted guilt and was
summarily tried. Items recovered from him and tendered as exhibits
included cartons of Guilder Beer, Local gins, Star larger beer and Stout.
In a related development, a female liqour vendor Asabe solomon was also sentenced to six months imprisonment by the same Court, with an option of N50,000 fine for sales of Alcohol in Gbadna village also in Paikoro Local Government area of Niger state.
When she was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Abdullahi usman , the
accused pleaded guilty to the charge of selling locally brewed Alcohol
popularly called ‘Burukutu’ without licence.
She however prayed the court to consider her age and give her a light
sentence promising to stop the business of sales of alcohol.
