Ekiti Prosecutes 35 Sanitation Offenders

By Falayi Olanrewaju

A total of 35 Offenders have been prosecuted in Ekiti State on Saturday during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. 

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Speaking with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources on Saturday during the November 2023 monthly environmental sanitation exercise, Mr Alokan Babatunde who led the ministry officials to move round the State Capital in Ado Ekiti disclosed that the offenders were charged to court for contravening  the State’s environmental laws.

“Alokan stated that they only allowed vehicles with permission from relevant ministries, or those on essential services to pass through and move around during the exercise”. 

He called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreaks of diseases.

The Prosecutor, Mr Adebayo Akinyemi and Mrs Ogunsan Bolaji submitted the lists of the 30 offenders to the Presiding Magistrate during the court sitting. 

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The Presiding Judge, Magistrate Olubunmi Bamidele while presiding over the case of the sanitation offenders sanctioned 30 defaulters with an option of fine of N5,000 each. 

Magistrate Olubunmi Bamidele however set free 4 defaulters who are underaged. 

The Director of Environmental officers, Mr Tunde Balogun, while bearing his applauded the residents for complying adequately with the exercise.

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He urged the court to sanction the culprits to serve as deterrent to other would-be offenders.

Speaking further, Balogun counselled the residents to sustain habits of cleanliness and make it a daily affair to ward off any form of diseases. He appealed against the dumping of waste in drainages and canals to avoid flooding.

“I want to advise the good people of our State not to dump their wastes in drainage systems and canals because they will be blocked, and this will lead to flooding. So, to avert flooding, let all of us keep to sanitation rules and regulations”, he pleaded. 

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Continuing, he said, “It is how the way we treat our environment that the environment will treat us. So we must treat our environment well to ensure healthy living. 

“Balogun said the residents should cooperate more with the government in their interest to ensure that the state remains clean”, he ended. 

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