A Mobile Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 10 culprits involved in indiscriminate dumping of refuse to two months imprisonment each.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the offenders were apprehended and dragged before the mobile court by the Environmental Task Force of the State Ministry of Environment, as part of efforts to rid the state of open defecation and filth.
The prosecutor, Mrs Ogunsan Bolaji, said the offenders were caught ‘in the act’, at the popular Ajilosun and NTA road areas of Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Delivering his judgment, Magistrate Timothy Abe said the culprits were found culpable of the offence under Section 7b and Section 12 (4) of Ekiti State Environmental Health and Sanitation Law of 2020.
The Magistrate, therefore, sentenced them to two months imprisonment but with option of fine of N5,000 each.
One of the offenders, Alaba Kolade who could not afford the fine, pleaded for leniency and was asked to observe community service.
Other offenders apprehended by the Environmental Task Force of the Ministry included: Adetimi Kemi, Iyabo Ojo, Ajayi Victoria, Olaoye Omolara and Sunday Risikat.
Others are; Ilori Wuraola, Olayemi Aarinola,Suleiman Hamed and Tadeolu Rotimi.
While speaking on the incident on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs Iyabo Fakunle- Okieimen, who frowned at the incident warned people against violating environmental laws.
Okieimen stressed the commitment of the present administration to provide healthy and conducive environment for the people of the state so as to guard against outbreak of epidemics.
The commissioner said the Task Force would continue to move round to enforce environmental laws adding that whoever was caught would be prosecuted according to environmental extant law.
She advised the people of the state to always abide by the Environmental laws and keep their environment clean and safe from diseases. (NAN)
