By Abdullahi Lukman
A Magistrate Court in Kano has convicted a tannery and a private individual for separate violations of environmental and public health laws, marking a significant step in the state’s ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and enforce environmental regulations.
In one of the rulings delivered by Magistrate Halima A. B. Wali, Globus Tannery, located in the Chalawa industrial area, was found guilty of discharging untreated wastewater into the surrounding environment.
The prosecution, led by Barrister Bahijjah H. Aliyu of the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, presented evidence showing that the company had violated Section 9 of the Kano State Environmental Pollution Control Law 2022, as well as Section 7(b) of the Public Health Law 2019.
The court ruled that the tannery’s actions constituted a serious threat to environmental safety and public well-being, and sentenced the company to one month imprisonment with an option of a ₦100,000 fine.
In a separate case before the same court, a resident named Mubarak Yusuf was prosecuted for causing persistent noise disturbances in a residential area.
According to the Ministry, Yusuf was operating sewing machines and a power generator during late-night hours, leading to complaints from neighbors.
Though the defendant denied the accusations, the prosecution submitted a noise pollution assessment report, and the court undertook a site visit to evaluate the situation firsthand.
Based on its findings, the court confirmed that the level of noise produced at night was disruptive to sleep and neighborhood peace, constituting a violation of Section 7 of the Public Health Law 2019. Consequently, Yusuf was ordered to restrict his operations to between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. only.
Reacting to the judgments, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahir M. Hashim, praised the court for upholding the law and emphasized that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring both individuals and businesses comply with environmental and public health regulations.
“These rulings serve as a strong reminder that pollution—whether it is the release of untreated industrial waste or disruptive noise—will not be tolerated. Everyone has a role to play in protecting our environment and the well-being of the community,” said Dr. Hashim.
He further encouraged the public to report any instances of environmental violations, such as air, water, or soil pollution, illegal waste disposal, and noise nuisance.
