A Magistrate Court sitting at Normansland in Kano has convicted two men for conspiracy, and illegal tree felling, in violation of the state’s environmental protection laws.
According to a statement by the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the convicts – Salihu Mukhtar and another accomplice, were found guilty of unlawfully cutting down a tree along Jigawa Road at Nasarawa Government Reserved Area (GRA), without official authorisation.
The prosecution, led by Barrister Bahijjah Aliyu, tendered evidence showing that the defendants conspired to commit the act, thereby breaching the Kano State Penal Code and Forestry Laws.
“Presiding over the case, His Worship, Auwalu Yusuf found the defendants guilty and delivered the following sentence:
For conspiracy: Three (3) months imprisonment or a fine of ₦20,000 each.
“For illegal tree felling: Six (6) months imprisonment or a fine of ₦50,000 each,” the statement revealed.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change in Kano State, Dr. Dahiru Hashim has reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance for illegal logging and urged residents to report environmental offences.
“Trees are not just decoration; they are critical to the air we breathe, the climate we live in, and the future we are trying to secure,” Dr. Hashim stated.
He warned, “Let this conviction be a lesson, anyone who damages our environment will face the full force of the law.”
