(Court Photo by Daily Trust)
Three individuals were found guilty and jailed by a Lagos Magistrate Court for attacking representatives of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), during an enforcement operation.
Under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, the defendants—Farouk Olori (25), Ogundare Oluwatobiloba (27), and Taoreed Alimi (20)—were arraigned before Magistrate Ariyo of the Special Offenses Court on three counts that included unlawful assault, obstruction of lawful duty, and breach of peace.
This was revealed at the LAGESC headquarters in Bolade-Oshodi by Major Olaniyi Cole (retd.), the Corps Marshal.
He claims that the enforcement action came in response to locals’ complaints about environmental violations near Olowu Street in the Ipodo neighborhood, where illegal trading activities were said to be obstructing vehicular and pedestrian movement.
He explained that abatement notices were initially served to encourage voluntary compliance, but enforcement became necessary after the notices were ignored.
During the operation to remove obstructions and clear the area, three suspects were arrested following an attack on KAI operatives.
According to Cole, one of the policemen was hurt during the encounter and was sent to the hospital right away.
Based on the information that was submitted to the court, Magistrate Ariyo sentenced the first and third defendants to one week in custody with the option of community service, while the second defendant was given a one-year jail sentence.
The Corps Marshal responded to the decision by characterizing it as a deterrent to violent conduct and law enforcement officer obstruction.
He asked locals to abide by environmental laws and refrain from doing anything that would result in legal action.
Cole also reaffirmed that open urinating and defecation, as well as trading on road setbacks and other restricted places, are still forbidden under Lagos State environmental legislation.FOLLOW US FOR MORE…