The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), FCT Mobile Court, on Thursday sentenced 40 hawkers to one week imprisonment for trading in prohibited areas.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Aminu Abdullahi, who freed three minors, sentenced the hawkers after they pleaded guilty to the charge.
“Having been found guilty of one offence, the convicts are hereby sentenced to one-week imprisonment for trading in the prohibited areas of FCT.

“Each of the convict is also given an option of fine between N1,000 and N5,000 for the offence,’’ Abdullahi said.

Abdullahi discharged and acquitted the three minors and warned them not to sell in such prohibited areas in the FCT again.

The convicts committed the offence on Nov. 12 and were arrested at different parts of FCT.

Prosecutor Eze Eze told the court that the offence contravened Sections 35 (1d) of AEPB Act 10 of 1997.

Benjamin Junadu, one of the convicts, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was selling pure water at Jabi Park when he was arrested.

Junadu said he did not know that the area was prohibited for trading.
One of the minor an SS1 student told NAN that she was also selling soft drinks at Garki Area before she was arrested by the AEPB.

She said that “rather than stay idle at home I decided to engage in the sale of soft drinks to assist my parents.

“I promise I will not sell in such areas again.’’