No fewer than 19 persons arrested for environmental sanitation infractions have been convicted by a Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos State, following prosecution by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, describing the convictions as a clear signal of the agency’s intensified enforcement drive across the state.
According to him, 17 offenders apprehended for open urination and defecation were each sentenced to pay a fine of N40,000 or serve one month imprisonment.
Gbadegesin further revealed that two other offenders, identified as Obinna Nzugbe and Ifeanyi Ibe, were convicted for indiscriminate dumping of refuse. Both defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced to five months imprisonment each.
He added that another defendant, Daniel Alfred, who was arraigned alongside them on the same charge, pleaded not guilty. The court subsequently adjourned his case until April 3, 2026, for trial.
Highlighting the significance of the court’s ruling, Gbadegesin reiterated that the convictions underscore the authority’s resolve to sustain strict enforcement of environmental laws in Lagos State.
He noted that open defecation, public urination and indiscriminate waste disposal constitute serious threats to public health, environmental sustainability and overall sanitation standards in the state.
The LAWMA boss urged residents to comply strictly with sanitation regulations and utilise approved waste disposal channels. He warned that offenders would continue to face prosecution in accordance with extant laws.
The latest convictions reinforce the Lagos State Government’s broader commitment to environmental protection and public health safety, as authorities intensify efforts to curb unsanitary practices and promote a cleaner, safer urban environment.
