A mobile court in Ekiti has sentenced 11 offenders to one month imprisonment for violating the state environmental laws.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convictions came, just as the state government said it would deploy its officials, under “Operation Kick Against Bad Acts”, to patrol the streets and fish out culprits.
The conviction of the offenders was coming less than a week after 10 people were sentenced to one month imprisonment each for violating environmental laws by a mobile Magistrates’ Court in Ado-Ekiti.
The state Environmental Task Force had earlier arrested and arraigned the 11 persons before the mobile court for indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places.
The Prosecutor, Mrs Bolaji Ogunsan, said that the defendants were caught in the act at Ajilosun, Fayose market and Owode areas, on Nova road, in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
She also alleged that one of them attacked officials of the task force while carrying out their lawful duties.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Dolapo Agunloye said that the culprits were found guilty of the offence which, she said, was contrary the state Environmental Law, 2020 and consequently sentenced them to one month imprisonment each, but with option of fine.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Iyabo Okieimen also reiterated the present administration’s commitment to the general wellbeing of the people of the state, saying, however, that government would not condone any act of indiscipline.