Jigawa Environmental Court convicts 5 persons over illegal trees felling
By Editor
The Jigawa State Environmental Court sitting in Dutse has convicted and sentenced five individuals for contravening the state’s climate change laws.
Abbas Rufa’i Wangara, Director Publicity and Protocol Matters, Judiciary, Jigawa State, stated this in a statement.
Wangara said that the Presiding Magistrate, His Worship Hassan Yau, delivered the judgment in a case brought by the Commissioner of Police against the defendants: Sale yahaya, Sani Wada, Idris Haladu, Dauda Harisu, and Mutari Musa.
“The convicts are residents of Andaza Town and Kwarin Makera Village, located within Dutse and Kiyawa Local Government Areas.
“They were found guilty of the illegal felling of trees (timbers), an act which violates the provisions of the Jigawa State Climate Change Law No. 19 of 2019.
“In his ruling, His Worship Yau sentenced each of the five convicts to one (1) year imprisonment,” he said.
Wangara said however, that the court granted an option of a fine of twenty thousand naira (₦20,000.00) in lieu of the prison term.
He said that the court also issued a forfeiture order concerning the evidence recovered from the scene.
“All remaining cut timber logs, which were tendered as exhibits during the trial, are hereby confiscated. The court ordered that these timber logs be disposed of, but only after the statutory period allowed for an appeal has lapsed, in strict compliance with the requirements of the law.
“This judgment serves as a strong warning to individuals and groups engaged in the indiscriminate felling of trees across the state.
“The Jigawa State Government, through its climate change laws, remains resolute in its efforts to combat deforestation, protect the environment, and safeguard the ecosystem for future generations,” he said.
Jigawa Environmental Court convicts 5 persons over illegal trees felling
