Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State Governor, has signed into law an executive order that stipulate different kinds of punishment on violators of the lockdown directives issued by the state government in order to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Governor Bala disclosed that the law, tagged; ‘Bauchi state infectious disease prevention and regulations 2020 is backed by an executive order number 001 2020, Coronavirus disease, COVID-19 partial lockdown’.
Bala Mohammed also directed the state Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar to constitute a mobile court that will try anyone found violating the partial lockdown imposed by the government in the state.
The Governor who gave the directive immediately after signing the executive order into law at the government house Bauchi, on Tuesday said the law was in furtherance of the directive giving to stop the spread of the pandemic.
He said the decision was necessary in order to check spread of COVID-19 among the people of the state.
The governor warned that government will not take it lightly with people who might intentionally break the orders, with exception on those on essential services who are allowed to operate in the state during the lockdown period.
“The law is in the exercise of the powers conferred on me in the constitution, and that is why we crave the indulgence of my Lord the chief judge of Bauchi State and of course the speaker, that if there is any need, it will go through legislation but for the time been we are coming back with this because we are always govern by the rule of law, we want to do things by the law, the rule says that we must clearly set out what we want to achieve”, he said.
“We are doing all these with absolute sense of responsibility and we regret any inconveniences that the order would have caused, but we are doing it in furtherance of the need to protect lives and properties in Bauchi state”, the Governor explained.
The governor said unnecessary movements on the street during the period of the lockdown will attract arrest and fine of N5, 000 upon conviction, just as any vehicle arrested without any permission to come out will be fined the sum of N20, 000.
“Even those on essential services delivery who did not wear mask or observe the social distancing practice will be liable and fined the sum of N5, 000 by the court set up for that purpose”, the Governor said.
On commercial motorcycles that were banned recently, violation of the directives will attract the fine of N10, 000 upon conviction.
Bala Mohammed, who described the decisions as hard, said it was necessary and timely in order to protect lives of the people of the state, adding that his administration will take all necessary measures to curb the spread of the virus.
He warned that the state government will not take it likely with violators of the two executive orders.
Governor Bala who declared that the two executives orders signed into law will be enforced immediately also warned security agencies not to use the law in intimidating people.
Barr Yakubu Bello Kirfi, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, explained that the two Executive Orders became necessary in order to check the spread of the pandemic in the state.
He said the state government will ensure total compliance with the order across all the borders of the state, calling on people to strictly adhere to the directives.
