A Lagos State mobile court has ordered the remand of a man for multiple environmental offences, including the illegal dumping of refuse and operating without a licence. The ruling underscores the state's ongoing crackdown on sanitation violations.
Offender Faces Seven Counts in Mobile Court
The Special Offences mobile court for the Ikeja Magisterial district, sitting at Oshodi, on Monday, December 22, 2025, ordered that Makinde Rasaq be held at the Kirikiri correctional facility. Rasaq was brought before the court on a series of charges related to improper waste management.
His alleged offences include breach of peace, indiscriminate dumping of waste, failure to use government-approved waste trucks, illegal transportation of waste, and obstruction of officers. He was initially detained at the Adekunle Police Station on December 21, 2025, before being handed over to the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Brigade for temporary remand.
Charges Under Lagos Environmental Law
Legal officers were present in court to finalise the charge sheet and oversee the prosecution. Rasaq faced a total of seven charges, primarily under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.
The specific charges read in court stated that he dumped refuse in a place not designated as a waste disposal site, contravening Section 8(1)(b) of the law. Another charge accused him of operating a waste collection, transportation, and disposal business without the required licence, an offence under Section 63(1).
A further charge detailed that he "did obstruct LAWMA/other government officials from carrying out their functions", which is contrary to Section 97 of the same law. All charges are punishable under Section 109.
Court's Ruling and Sentencing
Following the presentation of facts by the prosecutor and evidence by legal officer H. A. Olanrewaju-Oke, the court delivered its ruling on the potential sentences for each count.
The court stipulated the following penalties:
- Count one: One month correctional service or imprisonment.
- Count two: Two months community service or two months imprisonment.
- Counts three to seven: Each count carries two months community service or three months imprisonment.
This case highlights the serious legal consequences for flouting environmental regulations in Lagos State. The prosecution serves as a clear warning against indiscriminate waste disposal and operating outside the state's sanctioned waste management system.
