An Osun State Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo on Wednesday sentenced a 45-year-old man, Jonathan Ukonwe to 30 days imprisonment for not wearing a face mask and resisting arrest.
It would be recalled that the state government led by Governor Gboyega Oyetola had mandated all residents in the state to always wear their facemasks and maintain social distancing as party of efforts to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the whole world.
Ukonwe was arraigned on three counts bordering on resisting arrest, deliberate refusal to wear nose mask and assault.
The police prosecutor, Mr Abiodun Fagboyinbo, told the court that he committed the offence on 1 July 2020 at about 10:30 AM at Olaiya Junction Area, Osogbo.
The Prosecutor said the convict intentionally resisted arrest after he disobeyed the constituted authority.
He explained that Ukonwe deliberately refused to wear facemask in the public.
He disclosed that Ukonwe committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 203 and 249(D) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.ll Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
He expressed further that Ukonwe assaulted one Meshack Funmilola F of Hunters Group of Nigeria by beating her up while performing her lawful duty on the enforcement of the use of facemask and thereby committed an offence contrary to (2 ) and punishable under section 3 56 (2) of Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2020.
When the two count charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.
While ruling, the Magistrate, Mr Opeyemi Badmus convicted and sentenced Ukonwe to 30 days imprisonment on the two counts or pay N15,000 fine.
He, however, admitted him to bail on the third count of assault with the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
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