The punishments were issued by Magistrate Olubunmi Bamidele in a court proceeding, as a result of blatant disregard for the Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation Laws of 2004. The sentences were delivered over the weekend.
The individuals in question were apprehended by the Special Taskforce on cleanliness during the August iteration of the operation conducted throughout the entirety of the state.
The individuals that were detained were primarily individuals engaged in travel and street vending. They were seized by officials from the environmental sanitation monitoring operation conducted in the Ado-Ekiti metropolis.
Based on the allegations, it has been determined that the individuals in question were observed traversing the primary thoroughfares within the municipality within the designated period of enforcement, in violation of provision 17 (h) of the Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation Laws enacted in 2004, hence rendering them liable to the corresponding penalties stipulated within the aforementioned provision.
According to the allegations, the accused individuals allegedly neglected their obligation to partake in the exercise as mandated by the Environmental Sanitation Edict of 2004. This failure to comply is subject to punishment under the corresponding section of the law.
The individuals in question impeded the Environmental Sanitation enforcement officers from carrying out their responsibilities at multiple sites within the state. This action constitutes a violation of Section 20 of the Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation Laws of 2004 and is subject to punishment as stipulated in the aforementioned section.
Following a careful consideration of the allegations levied against the defendants, Magistrate Mrs. Bamidele issued a verdict, sentencing each individual to a period of three months of incarceration, accompanied by rigorous physical labor.
However, she provided each individual with the alternative of a fine of N5,000 for each charge in place of the imposed punishment.