76 Year Old Man Faces 250,000 Fine For Illegal Waste Dumping
By Felix Kuyinu
A 76 year old man, Moses Adelowokan, has been arrested for violating the Lagos State environmental laws by indiscriminately dumping refuse in Lagos.
Moses alongside five others, facing the same enforcement trial at the Mobile Court in Bolade, Oshodi, were arrested and are facing punishment of either a N250,000 fine or three months in prison.
The septuagenarian who hails from Osun State alongside others identified as Qassim Jamiu, 44, and Ayo Jamiu, 18; both from Kwara, Alexander Innocent who is a 40 year old from Akwa Ibom and Oparinde Taiwo, 55, from Ogun State were remanded in Kirikiri prison for continuation of prosecution.
The quintet, who emptied their refuse into the canal bridge along the Igando-Iba Road link bridge, was arrested by officers of the Lagos State Taskforce team barely 48 hours after the Lagos State Government issued a stern warning against environmental violations,
The court adjourned the case to July 9.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said that the arrestees conveyed their refuse in a lorry and caught red handed in the unlawful act.
Reacting to the incident, Wahab said, “No one will be spared regardless of age, status, religion, or gender. We will ensure full prosecution to deter others who flout our environmental laws.
“The violators risk three months’ imprisonment or a fine of N250,000. The government has made proper waste disposal accessible through Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators assigned to every ward in Lagos State.
“We are urging residents to make use of these legal channels for waste evacuation and warned those contemplating illegal dumping to desist or face the full weight of the law.
