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strong>Anti-open grazing bill passes first reading

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Billah Musa, Abdulmuninu Sherif, Talle Umar, and Aliyu Abdulazeez for illegal dealings in petroleum products.

Upon their arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the EFCC, Justice A. T. Mohammed, of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each after pleading guilty to illegal dealings in petroleum products.

A statement issued by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, revealed that the suspects pleaded guilty to their one-count charge when it was read to them.

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, K.W. Chukwuma Eneh and F. O. Amama, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Defense counsel, M. M. Suleiman and D. D. Ayuba did not oppose the prayers of the prosecution counsel.

Justice Mohammed found them guilty as charged, convicted, and sentenced them to two years imprisonment with an option of N300,000 fine each.

MEANWHILE, the Rivers State House of Assembly has received a letter from Governor Nyesom Wike to enact a law banning open rearing and grazing of livestock in the state.

Speaker of the House, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, read the bill titled: Enactment of Rivers State Public Prohibition Of Open Rearing And Grazing Of Livestock And Ranching Administration Bill 2021, which passed first reading at plenary.

Wike explained that the bill followed a decision taken by Southern Governors’ Forum recently to ban open grazing in the South.

He further said the southern governors realised the need for various states’ Houses of Assembly to enact laws to back open grazing ban on or before September 1, 2021.