Gbenga Ilemobayo
The Ogun State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Monday sentenced 14 offenders to 14 days’ imprisonment with an option of fine for indiscriminate waste disposal.
The convicts include Kareem Sherifat, Isiwat Ololade, Ojanuga Esther Usman Babatunde, Blessing John, Falodun Bukola and Agunbiade Titilayo.
The others are Oritogun Samson, Obasa Idowu, Solomon Adelani, Lateef Saidat, Taiwo Abimbola, Adeniyi Olayinka and Precious Adeyeri.
Prosecuting the offenders on two counts, Abolaji Dasaolu said around 8am at Tekobo, in the Idi-Aba Abeokuta Magisterial District, the convicts were arrested after they dumped refuse on public roads, which emitted offensive odour that attracted flies ingress and liable to spreading cholera, which is dangerous to health as well as accumulating and depositing refuse on public roads and drains, thereby blocking public drains, which could cause flooding and endanger lives and property, contrary to the Public Health Law of Ogun State, 2006 and Section 34(1) of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law, 2020.
Delivering judgement, Justice O. Sam-Obaleye found all the accused guilty of the two counts and sentenced them to 14 days’ imprisonment or a fine of #10,000 on each count.
She also charged them to be of good behaviour and stop dumping their waste on roads and public places as anyone of them brought to the court for the same offence again would be jailed without the option of fine.
