Lagos enlists 24 magistrate courts to try waste bill offenders, others
The Lagos State Judiciary has enlisted no fewer than 24 magistrate and mobile courts to adjudicate on cases of waste bill defaulters and other environmental sanitation offences, as well as waste dumping.
A statement issued by the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) in Lagos, through its lawyer, Mr David Fadile, said this became necessary following huge outstanding waste bills not paid to operators and the continuous infraction on environmental offences by residents without adequate enforcement.
Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, approved and dedicated 24 magistrate and mobile courts across the state for the trial of offenders.
The courts include Court 4, Epe in the Epe Magisterial District, Court 4, Yaba, Court 6, Ebute-Metta, Court 4, Surulere and Court 2, Mushin in the Yaba Magisterial District, and Court 7, Apapa, in the Apapa Magisterial District.
Fadile informed the PSP Operators that the courts had jurisdictions on environmental sanitation offences and fee recovery, adding that the courts were to handle cases relating to waste fee recovery and indiscriminate dumping of waste.
He explained that not patronising the operators is an environmental offence as waste dumping is highly frowned on by the law.
AWAMN President, Mr David Oriyomi, applauded members, describing the new development as most pleasing while urging members to rededicate themselves to their service and explore the opportunity presented by the new development if they were not paid for their services.
