The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A resident, Ibrahim Ali, appealed to the traders to desist from hoarding food to make more gains.
Nigerians remonstrated for 10 days, seeking an end to prevalent hunger and corruption, but a recent survey shows their anguish continues with soaring food prices reported.
Mr Idris said messages have been passed to the presidency in the past three days.
“A bag of foreign rice sold at N75,000 a few weeks ago is now selling for N85,000 to N90,000 today,” a trader said.
The recent petrol scarcity has continued to hinder economic activities in Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
A ‘long slate’ of ‘Titus’ (mackerel) now sells for N105,000 against N78,000 for which it sold last year.
“I am not aware of any election and I have to open for business to earn money for the upkeep of my family.”
