A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Minna, presided over by Abdullahi Usman has sentenced a man popularly called ‘Baba Abuja’ to 12 months imprisonment for selling alcohol in the open market in Paiko, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
In line with Shariah law in the state, Baba Abuja is to either serve 12 years imprisonment or to pay a fine option of N200, 000 (two hundred thousand Naira).
Baba Abuja was arrested and arraigned before the Court by the head of operations and enforcement of Niger State Liquor and Licensing Board and had pleaded guilty to the charges of selling alcohol within prohibited area.
The arrest of Baba Abuja was based on a petition by residents of Paiko and addressed to Governor Sani Bello, indicating that the sales and consumption of alcohol within Paiko metropolis constituted serious security threats.
Governor Bello then directed the chairman of the Liqour Licensing Board, Yahaya Halidu, to commence the enforcement of the petition in accordance with the liquor law which led to the arrest of the suspect.
Items recovered from the accused included cartons of Guilder, local gins, Star larger beer and different brands of Stout totaling about 20 cartons.
The presiding Magistrate thereby sentenced him to a 12-month imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000.
In the same vein a female liqour vendor, Asabe Solomon, also bagged six months imprisonment with an option of N50, 000 (Fifty thousand Naira) fine for selling alcohol in Gbadna village also in Paiko.
Asabe who also appeared before the Abdullahi Usman presided over Court pleaded guilty to the charges of selling locally brewed liquor popularly called Burukutu without valid licence from the state government.
She also implored the Court to consider her age and give her a light sentence while promising to stop the business if she has something else to survive on.