A Jigawa State Environmental Court sitting in Dutse has convicted and sentenced five individuals to one year imprisonment each for contravening the state’s climate change laws through illegal tree felling.
Ashenews gathered that the Jigawa State Government has intensified efforts to protect the environment and combat climate change.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the Presiding Magistrate, Hassan Yau, said, “The convicts are guilty of violating the provisions of the Jigawa State Climate Change Law No. 19 of 2019.”
The convicts Identified as, Sale Yahaya, Sani Wada, Idris Haladu, Dauda Harisu and Mutari Musa, are residents of Andaza Town and Kwarin Makera Village in Dutse and Kiyawa Local Government Areas.
The court, however, granted them the option of a fine of N20,000 each in lieu of the one-year prison term.
“The convicts were found guilty of felling trees without permission, an act that contravenes the state’s climate change laws,” the magistrate said.
The court also issued a forfeiture order on exhibits recovered from the scene and directed that the timber logs be disposed of after the statutory appeal period.
Commenting on the verdict, the Director of Publicity and Protocol, Jigawa State Judiciary, Abbas Wangara, described the judgment as a strong warning against indiscriminate tree felling.
“This judgment serves as a strong warning to individuals and groups engaged in the indiscriminate felling of trees across the state,” he said.
Wangara added that the state government remains resolute in combating deforestation and safeguarding the ecosystem for future generations.
He said the decision sends a clear message that environmental crimes will not be tolerated in the state and urged residents to report such offences.
“The Jigawa State Environmental Court will continue to prosecute environmental offenders,” he assured.
Efforts by our correspondent to obtain comments from the convicts after the court session were unsuccessful, as they declined to speak.
As they were led away by officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service, the convicts maintained silence, with one briefly stating, “We have no comment.”
