By Amebo Newspaper NG
The Ogun State Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, has sentenced 14 persons to 14 days imprisonment each for improper disposal of waste and contravention of the state’s environmental sanitation regulations.
The offenders, who were prosecuted for indiscriminate dumping of refuse in public places, were found guilty of violating the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) law as well as relevant provisions of the Public Health Law.
Those convicted are Mr. Oloyede Soji O., Mrs. Dayo Fasola, Mrs. Maria Ogundimu, Mrs. Ajoke Omotoke, Mrs. Mustapha Kehinde, Mrs. Akingbola Bolanle, Mrs. Simbiat Idowu, Mrs. Mustapha Adeola, Mrs. Adesanya Anu, Mrs. Akinola Ajoke, Mrs. Innocent Chidimma, Mr. Ismail Ali, Mrs. Adetola Meshioye, and Mrs. Taiwo Rasidat.
The 14 offenders were arraigned before the court on a two-count charge bordering on improper waste disposal and public health violations.
The charges specifically related to the dumping of waste indiscriminately in public places, an offence prohibited under the state’s environmental and public health laws.
Delivering judgment, Justice O.O. Sam Obaleye found all the defendants guilty on the two counts.
The court subsequently sentenced each of them to two weeks imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. The court, however, gave each convict an option of paying a N10,000 fine in lieu of the prison term.
The judgment represents another step in the enforcement of environmental sanitation regulations in Ogun State, particularly the government's efforts to curb indiscriminate dumping of refuse and promote cleaner communities.
OGWAMA, in a statement following the court pronouncement, reiterated its commitment to enforcing sanitation regulations and ensuring that residents who violate environmental laws are held accountable for their actions.
The agency warned residents against dumping refuse on roadsides, drainage channels, open spaces and other unauthorised locations, stressing that improper waste disposal poses serious environmental and public health risks.
Indiscriminate waste disposal can obstruct drainage channels, contribute to flooding, create breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects and rodents, pollute the environment and undermine efforts to maintain clean and healthy communities.
OGWAMA therefore urged residents across the state to cooperate with government sanitation initiatives by ensuring that household and commercial waste is properly packaged and disposed of through approved channels.
The authority further called on members of the public to see environmental cleanliness as a collective responsibility rather than solely a government duty.
The latest convictions underscore the state government's renewed emphasis on enforcing environmental laws and ensuring that residents comply with established sanitation standards.
OGWAMA maintained that sustained compliance by residents, businesses and other stakeholders remains essential to achieving a cleaner, healthier and more environmentally sustainable Ogun State.
Residents were consequently advised to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal and embrace responsible sanitation practices to avoid prosecution and possible conviction.
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