A man identified as Inuwa Ayuba has been sentenced to two months imprisonment for illegal felling of trees by a Magistrate court.
The court sitting at Rijiyar Zaki, Kano, has convicted and sentenced Ayuba to two months’ imprisonment with an option of fine.
Ayuba was said to have illegally felled seven neem trees in Sarauniya village, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Bahijja H. Aliyu, who was the prosecuting counsel stated that a monitoring team from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change arrested the culprit.
Aliyu said, the ministry acted swiftly on a tip-off about the illegal activity. The team apprehended the culprit, gathered evidence, and presented the case before the court.
According to him, the convict’s action violated Kano State’s Environmental, Forestry, and Pollution Control Laws. The law prohibits tree felling without prior authorization, alongside regulations against pollution and open defecation.
However, after reviewing the evidence, the court found the defendant guilty. And he was sentenced to either two months in prison or payment of a fine.
“Additionally, he was ordered to plant 14 neem trees as part of his penalty.”
Reacting to the sentencing, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dahir Hashim, commended the judgement. He praised the ministry’s enforcement team and the judiciary for their commitment to protecting the environment.
“The conviction serves as a strong deterrent to those harming our environment.”
“We will continue to safeguard our natural resources for the well-being of current and future generations,” the Commissioner said.
The ministry, in a statement by its spokesman, Ismail Gwammaja, urges all residents to comply with environmental regulations.
It also urged the residents to report any acts of environmental degradation to the appropriate authorities.