Lagos prosecutes alleged environmental offenders, fake LAGESC officer
THE Lagos State Environment Sanitation Corp (LAGESC) at the weekend arraigned nine persons arrested for violating the environmental laws before the special offences court in Ogba.
The violators were arrested during the joint operation exercise of LAGESC and the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in different locations including Ikeja, Agege, Oregun, Jakande and Lekki/epe express way for indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Lagos metropolis.
The offenders are; Gabriel Joel, 25, Segun Adekunle, 30, Joel Godwin, 20, Kabiru Aliu, 44, Aminu Lawal, 44, Christy Nwamkama.
Others are Ochanya Ejembi 20, Mercy Amu, 20 and Garuba Abdul Kadiri, 20. When their charge was read, they pleaded guilty, started weeping and begging the magistrate to temper justice with mercy. The Magistrate ruled that the offenders be imprisoned for one week or pay a fine of 5,000. Seven of the offenders fulfilled bail conditions while Kabiru Aliyu and Aminu Lawal were remanded pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions or acceptance of option of imprisonment.
Commenting, Corps Marshal of the Agency, CP Akinpelu Gbemisola noted that the present administration is passionate about cleanliness and has directed LAGESC officials to clamp down on all violators of environmental sanitation laws. She also read the riot act to criminal elements impersonating Lagos State Government workers whilst warning that those apprehended in the act will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
In a related development, a 40-year-old man identified as Hakeem Akanmu Oyediji of No 4, Iretioluwa Street, BoladeOshodi, Lagos was arrested after a tip-off, while trying to extort money from illegal street traders at Bendel Close, Off Bishop Aboyade Cole street, Victoria Island and has since been handed over to the police for further investigation.
It was gathered that he has been impersonating LAGESC officers and had been operating for more than three months with a fake Lagos State government identity card.