A mobile court constituted by the Kwara State Government has convicted 12 environmental violators following the violation of the state environmental laws.
In a statement by Muritala Shakirat, Press Secretary of the Kwara Ministry of Environment, made available to the press on Tuesday, said that the court, which commenced sitting at Ilorin Central Market (Oja-Oba), on Monday, convicted the 12 violators apprehended at different locations of the market.
They were charged with alleged encroachment on the main road, in spite of various sensitisation and warnings undertaken by the government.
“The Court, comprised of a Chief Magistrate, Environmental Health Officers (EHO) and security personnel, tried the offenders for offences ranging from alleged road encroachment and illegal display of wares on pedestrian walkways amongst others”, the statement said.
The presiding Magistrate, Muhammad Aluko, in his ruling sentenced the offenders in line with the provisions of Kwara State Environmental laws and gave them an option of fines in consideration of being first offenders, which was paid accordingly to the coffers of the Kwara State Government through the State Internal Revenue Services staff, who were also on ground.
Speaking after the conviction, the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge’s team of observers and monitors also paid an unscheduled visit to the Mobile Court sitting during which the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, delivered the commissioner’s goodwill message.
“The Commissioner appreciated the cooperation of security agencies and other parties involved in the multi stakeholders approach, being sustained in tackling waste management, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, and the unabating menace of road encroachment.
“We must all do the needful to maintain and preserve the investments into evolving a cleaner Kwara, championed by the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration in the state.
“As a state, we must continue to say ‘no’, to indiscriminate dumping of wastes, road encroachment, and other practices that are inimical to our state as a whole and equally not in consonance with environmental laws of the state. She added.
On the commissioner’s entourage were the Senior Special Assistant on Environmental Protection, Mohammed Muazu, Special Assistant on Grassroot Sensitisation, Isiaka Yakub Agodi, Director of Personnel Finance and Supply, Mr Taiwo Okanlawon, and the Head of Climate Change Mr Illias Abdulganiyy, amongst others.
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