Eight people sentenced to community service for illegal waste dumping

On Friday, a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta imposed community‑service sentences on eight individuals for indiscriminate waste disposal.

The defendants were: Abidemi Oyebanjo, Aminat Adewusi, Aminat Olarewaju, Omolana Olusola, Abiola Moridiya, Mary Olaogun, Abiodun Aromokun and Sylvester Iwenya.

They faced two counts: unlawful and improper waste disposal on public roads, and acts that posed risks to health, life and property.

Magistrate A.K. Araba, after delivering the judgment, found all eight defendants guilty and ordered community service to be carried out on the court premises.

Araba also instructed that photographs of the defendants performing the community service be posted on the court’s notice board.

She warned that future offenders convicted of a similar offence would face imprisonment without the possibility of a fine, aiming to deter repeat violations.

Earlier, prosecutor Mr Kehinde Ogunsola, a Medical Officer of Health for the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), informed the court that the defendants carried out the offences at various sites in the capital.

Ogunsola stated that the defendants were apprehended dumping waste on public roads between 6:15 am and 8:05 am in the Isale‑Igbein, Car Wash and Abiola Way areas of Abeokuta