A Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital has sentenced 40 people to three-month jail term each for violating the Kwara State Environmental Law.
In his judgement, presiding Magistrate, Saidu Tunde Abdulkareem sentenced the defendants to three months imprisonment each, with an option of N50,000 fine, in line with the provisions of section 5 subsection 1- 4 of the State Environmental Law.
Thirty-one of the defendants were arrested for indiscriminate disposal of refuse, while nine were apprehended for illegal scavenging.
State Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Nafisat Buge, while reacting to the judgement described it a welcome development, that will help curb the outbreak of diseases, flood disaster and other dangers inherent in indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
The Ministry recently inaugurated a task force to arrest individuals caught breaching environmental standards, particularly improper disposal of waste, encroachment, and illegal scavenging.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
