6 Remanded in Prison for Violating Taraba’s Environmental Protection Order
From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Taraba State Special Mobile Court Chairman, Useni Galadima, has remanded six persons in prison custody for violating Executive Order number five, 2023, issued by Governor Agbu Kefas.
The accused, Suleiman Musa, 30, from Jos, Plateau State; Adamu Umar, 40, from Bauchi, Bauchi State; Usman Umar Danburam, 35, from Darazo, Bauchi State; Ibrahim Abdullahi, 50, from Minna, Niger State; Aminu Mohammed, 40; and Adamu Abdul’aziz, 46, from Taraba State, were arrested on January 17, 2025.
They were found in possession of 78 pieces of detonating cables, one piece of dynamite explosive, two motorcycles, three bags of stones suspected to be quartz precious stones, dane guns, an axe, and a shovel at Abuja Leather, a notorious mining camp in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Useni Galadima said the confession of the accused and the exhibits presented were sufficient evidence for prosecution.
The lead prosecuting counsel, Barrister Neirus Johnson, urged the court to confiscate the items and impose penalties according to the law.
Johnson cited Section 1 of the Land Use Act and Section 12, Subsection 1 of the Executive Order, stating that the accused had contravene the order.
He requested the court to invoke the section to serve as a deterrent to others.
The defense counsel, Barrister Ikechukwu Christopher Osuji, stated that he had no objections to the decision of the court and prayed for an adjournment to prepare his defense.
The case has been adjourned to January 27, 2025, for determination.
