The magistrate courts in Plateau State have begun the trial of 357 suspects in the destruction of government and private property arrested during the reinstatement of a 24 hours curfew last Saturday in Jos.
The suspects were arrested between 24th and 26th of October at various locations in Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas.
The suspects were arraigned on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, theft, unlawful assembly, mischief and violation of Plateau State Government Executive Order 9, contrary and punishable under section 144 of the Penal Code Law of 2017.
About 45 young lawyers were equally on hand at the various courts where trials took place to render legal services to the defenders pro bono and did their best to secure the release of some of the accused persons who pleaded guilty to the offence.
Also, some Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) were on ground to render assistance to women and widows who could not pay their fines.
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Those who pleaded guilty to their charges in all the Chief magistrate and Area Courts were summarily convicted and sentenced to periods of between 3 to 4 months with the option of fines of between N1,000 to N40,000, while those who pleaded not guilty to their charges (especially in courts 6,7&8) respectively, had their matter adjourned to November and December and ordered to be remanded until the adjourned dates.
(Editor: Omor Bazuaye)
