Coronavirus: Court convicts owner of hotel in Rivers

A Magistrate Court in PortHarcourt convicted and fined the Owner and Manager of demolished Prodest Hotel in Eleme, Gogorobari Needan and Bariledum Azoroh #50,000 each for contravening the State Executive Order on COVID-19.

Although Needan the Owner was not present in the Court, the Court ordered that Azoroh, the Manager should be quarantined at the Isolation Centre in Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia for 14 days to ascertain his COVID-19 status.

Senior Magistrate, Rita Oguguo while delivering the judgement yesterday said the accused Persons violated Governor Nyesom Wike's Executive Order on closure of hotels in the State, saying the accused violated paragraph 3 and 4 of the Executive Order number 7.

But the Counsel to Azoroh, Godwin Awi who was unable to make it to the Court before the judgement has this to say;

"I don't agree with everything that has transpired today in line with the fact that the Constitution is clear as to the issue of right to Counsel, adequate time and facility for an accused Person standing trial to defend himself"