A Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Oshodi sentenced ten environmental offenders to various punishments after they were found guilty of environmental offenses.
Aminu Kanjau, Sunday Jesuseye, Mrs. Ojo, Ohamara Chidinma, Tawa Yusuf, Ojebunmi Mohammed, Abdulahi Mohammed Lawal, Segun Alaoye, Chinecherem Nkwako, and Gafar Ajose are among those condemned by the court.
They were apprehended at various sites over the previous 24 hours by the Lagos State rubbish Management Authority (LAWMA) enforcement squad for irresponsible rubbish disposal.
On Tuesday, they were convicted and punished in varied amounts by Magistrate Daniel Njokwu after pleading guilty to the charges brought against them in court.
The charge sheet reads,” In the special offenses (Mobile) Court of Lagos State in the Ikeja Magistrate District, holden at Oshodi, that you the above-named persons on the 16th October 2023, at about 9 pm -7 am along Surulere, Ikeja, Lagos Island in the Magisterial District did improperly disposed refuse and hereby committed an offense punishable under item 1 first schedule of the Environmental Management Protection Laws of Lagos State 2017.″
Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA, told newsmen after their conviction that the age of people treating the environment with contempt was ended, and that the Authority would go hard on persons and businesses that violated state environmental regulations.
He said, “I want to assure Lagosians that LAWMA is totally committed to establishing proper waste management culture across the metropolis. The Authority will not condone acts of indiscriminate waste dumping, capable of putting the health of residents at risk, and eroding efforts made for a sustainable environment.”
Gbadegesin stated that the LAWMA enforcement team has been strategically positioned to work around the city, apprehending those who would hide under the cover of darkness to dump waste at unauthorized locations and that the agency was also collaborating with sister agencies such as the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) in its determined enforcement drive.
He emphasized the agency’s commitment to keeping the cityscape clean in the long run, urging citizens to help the Authority by avoiding indiscriminate waste dumping, patronizing assigned PSP operators, and paying their waste bills on time.
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