Friday, March, 13 2026 - Seven persons have been arraigned before the Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting in Ikeja Magisterial District for allegedly assaulting enforcement operatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) during an environmental enforcement operation.
The defendants, Olamilekan Abdullahi (21), Akeem Olamilekan
(24), Frank Tom (25), Sakiru Jamiu (20), Emmanuel Abiodun (41), Olarewanju
Onyowale (35) and Taiwo Yusuf (30), were apprehended by LAWMA enforcement
personnel on March 8, 2026, within the Moshalashi Jimoh axis in Lagos Island
during routine monitoring against indiscriminate waste disposal.
They were subsequently arraigned on March 10, 2026, before
the Special Offences (Mobile) Court, Ikeja, in the matter of Attorney General
of Lagos State v. Olamilekan Abdullahi & 6 Others.
The prosecution charged the defendants on a five-count
charge bordering on conduct likely to cause breach of peace, indiscriminate
dumping of refuse at an unapproved location, failure to patronise an approved
Private Sector Participant (PSP) waste operator, obstruction of officers in the
discharge of their duties, and assault.
All seven defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when
they were read before the court.
The court thereafter adjourned the case to April 24, 2026,
for trial and admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with
two responsible sureties, one of whom must be a recognized community leader
while the other must be a gainfully employed relative.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the
defendants were remanded in a correctional facility.
LAWMA warns that obstruction or assault of enforcement
personnel constitutes a serious offence under the laws of Lagos State,
reiterating that acts capable of undermining environmental enforcement
operations would be firmly addressed through appropriate legal channels.
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