Magistrate Court in Yola fines ADC governorship aspirant ₦3m for breach of Adamawa environmental regulations
A Magistrate Court sitting in Yola has imposed a fine of ₦3 million on Engr. Omar Suleiman, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, for contravening the state’s environmental regulations by pasting campaign posters on public structures.
Presiding Magistrate Musa Adamu held that the matter was administrative rather than criminal, clarifying that the offence constituted a breach of environmental laws rather than a criminal infraction.
Although Suleiman was initially arraigned, the Court ruled that the case fell squarely within the ambit of the Adamawa State environmental regulations and not criminal law. Consequently, the fine was imposed, and the defendant was directed to caution his supporters against further violations.
Magistrate Adamu emphasized that pasting campaign posters on public infrastructure contravenes the Executive Order issued by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri regulating the use of public structures for political campaign materials.
Counsel to the defendant, Barrister Bals Sanga, welcomed the ruling, noting that the defence had consistently argued that the matter was administrative in nature. He stated that the judgment provided clarity on the legal character of the case.
Similarly, Professor Jeffery Baminian, representing the Omarrana Campaign Organisation, described the decision as fair and commended the Court for its balanced handling of the matter.
