Ekiti Government Nabs 40 Residents for Violating Environmental Law

By Olanrewaju Falayi

No fewer than 40 persons were nabbed by the Ekiti State Government for allegedly violating the Environmental Sanitation Law of the State.

The people were arrested during the monthly environmental sanitation held across the State on Saturday.

Treasure Newspaper learned that the residents were charged to court and fined.

Appearing before the Magistrate, the Prosecutor, Mr. Adebayo Opeyemi and Mrs. Fakunle Morenike told the court that the offenders were caught on the streets in Ado and Okesa market over non-compliance with the monthly exercise. 

According to Adebayo, they were caught loitering and idling away without being engaged in the exercise.

“My Lord, there is no way the offenders will say that they were not aware of the monthly sanitation because the notification was well made through various mediums,” he added.

The prosecutors noted that the defaulters committed an offense contrary to the Ekiti Environmental Protection Law.

The Magistrate, Olubunmi Bamidele in her ruling, granted the offenders bail in the sum of N5,000 and also pick the dirt surrounding the court respectively.

Mr. Tunde Balogun, Director of Environmental Health, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the state, decried the way citizens are neglecting the laws of the land.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to the maintenance of a clean environment, noting that he was satisfied with the compliance.

“Though, a lot of persons have been arrested for defaulting on the law. Over 35 of them, and are facing the law.

He stressed that the people of the Okesa market has been warned in the last sanitation exercise and about 20 Okada riders were arrested.

“We must learn to keep our environment clean and maintain hygiene around us, he said.