A Mobile Court Sitting in Onitsha has cautioned and discharged Messers Chigozie Ani and Onyeka Ojionweya who were arrested for touting and remanded five others at the Onitsha Correctional Center for various offences.
They were arraigned before the Mobile Court at the Terminal A Park Upper Iweka Onitsha by Anambra State Government and the Anti Touting Squad Team.
The two men who were arrested at different locations in Onitsha on twenty fourth January 2020 were accused of touting, while those remanded were accused of issuing fake emblems, possession of fake naira notes among others.
The Magistrate who presided over the case cautioned those discharged to desist from touting, warning them that when caught next time they will be made to face the full weight of the law and orderef that they will sign an undertaking to back up their promise.
The Magistrate refused the request to grant others bail, mandating the Police to conclude their investigations on their cases in the next five working days and adjourned the case to third February 2020.
Reacting to the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Liaison who is also in charge of sales of Anambra State 2020 Consolidated Emblem, Honorable Hippolite Ekwegbalu, stated that some of the suspects were issuing fake Anambra State Consolidated Emblem while others were issuing Emblems from Neighbouring States to unsuspecting public thereby diverting the State Government revenue to private pockets and warned those who are still in the act to desist.
A Consel to one of the defendants at the Mobile Court, Barrister Chidiebere Ezem regretted that his client was not granted bail noting that the cases which they were facing trials were bailable expressing hope that they will be bailed after the adjourned date.
On his part, Anambra State Co-ordinator, Anti-Touting Squad Mr Okwudili Ohanazoeze regretted the increase in number of touts in Onitsha and disclosed that over fifty people have been arrested and pledged the squad’s determination to rid the commercial city of touts while calling for State Government’s assistance.
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