The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed off at least four parks and gardens and prosecuted 12 persons for violating the COVID-19 protocols.
This disclosure was made yesterday by the Head, Media and Enlightenment of the FCT COVID-19 Taskforce, Comrade Ikharo Attah while addressing Journalists shortly after the seal-off exercise.
Attah explained that the order to seal off the gardens for a period of two weeks was issued by the FCT Mobile Court after they were found guilty of contravening the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 regulations, regarding the operation of bars, nightclubs, gardens and the likes.
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Similarly, he also disclosed that about 12 persons earlier arrested at the four gardens very late in the night, would be made to appear before the Court for the determination of their COVID-19 offenses and judgments after the expiration of the two week-seal off.
He explained: “We went out just before Christmas celebration and met some parks violating COVID-19 regulations, and we did our operation.
“Because we are enforcement officers and not the judge, we arrested and took them to the judge through our prosecutor and the judge found them guilty. Although the judge gave those arrested the option of fine and gave a seal off order for the four parks and gardens affected.
“What we observe is that most of them operate beyond the period. The persons who were in the shops didn’t comply with physical distancing. Face masks weren’t there at all and no handwashing points.
“They were totally in breach of the COVID-19 protocol and the judge in his wisdom, Magistrate Egbe Arafe issued a seal-off order for two weeks. After those two weeks, we will now come back to the court and continue the trial.”
While advising other gardens and parks to do what is required, he hinted that his men would focus on nightclubs, just as he vowed that they would have it tough unless they comply with the health regulations issued by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19.
“What we are doing is not what we want to do, but we have to save people from themselves. If you look at some of these people here, they ought to be working in the restaurants, but the other ones come in and make things difficult for them. Sometimes you have to enforce the law; it feels very bad but what do we do going forward,” he queried.
The parks sealed off include; Byuan Resources Limited Resort, Skychef Park and Garden, 7th Option Park and Leisure Service all in Garki II as well as Eden Park and Garden, Utako.