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Chief Magistrate Obinna Njemanze of Imo State traffic mobile court has convicted 15 out of 17 traffic offenders for various traffic offences, while two were discharged and acquitted.

The convicts include two staff members of the traffic agency, who were found guilty of bribery and sentenced to seven days in detention with an option of N10, 000 fine each.

Chief Magistrate Njemanze, after the sentences, said the court would be sitting every Thursday, for a start, while arrangements were on to sit two or three times in a week.

The mobile court was inaugurated in line with the setting up of the Imo State Traffic Management Authority, under the Ministry of Transport.

Speaking at the inaugural sitting, the State Commissioner for Transport, Chief Rex Anunobi, a lawyer, said the agency was set up by law N0 14 of 2011, adding that ISMTA was empowered by law to control and manage traffic in the state in accordance with the extant law of the state.

He urged motorists in the state to adhere to the traffic rules and laws, so as not to be caught and tried.

He said: “The Imo State Traffic Management Authority, is an arm of the Ministry of Transport that is in charge of free flow of traffic. Their duty is more or less the control and management of traffic in the state in accordance with the extant law, which is Law Number 14 of 2011.
The law equally provided for a mobile court, a traffic court to try offenders, who commit traffic offences and other free flow impediments.

“We don’t want anybody to suffer any pain. I plead with motorists to eschew indiscipline and be patient enough to observe traffic signs and rules.

“ His Excellency, the Governor, has done his bit by providing motorable roads within the capital and across the state. The only duty of motorists is to obey the traffic rules.”