The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, successfully apprehended and secured the conviction of 17 individuals responsible for vandalizing pedestrian bridges in Lagos. These miscreants, who were found converting pedestrian bridges into sleeping quarters and intentionally damaging the polycarbonate roofing sheets designed to shelter pedestrians from weather elements, faced justice at a Lagos Magistrate Court in Bolade-Oshodi.
Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), disclosed this development at the Agency’s Command Headquarters in Bolade-Oshodi. Highlighting the impact of the enforcement operation, Cole stated, “Our recent weeks’ enforcement operation against criminal elements obstructing pedestrian access has been successful. We arrested 17 miscreants who damaged polycarbonate roofing sheets on pedestrian bridges, converting these materials into makeshift beds for sleeping, thereby infringing upon public utilities.”
The offenders, apprehended around the Dopemu, Onilekere, Airport road, and Ikeja Along pedestrian bridges, include Kazeem Aliu, Solomon Ikechukwu, Babatunde Peter, Ajayi Samuel, Isa Ibrahim, Useni Abdullahi, Ayuba Rahman, Emmanuel Samuel, Sani Wasiu, Uzoagba Chijioke, Taofik Fabowale, Ogbede Esther, Precious Gabriel, Akeredolu Femi, Sodiq Oladosu, Sunday Oyeniran, and Oyebo Imole. They were arraigned before Senior Magistrate C.K Tunji Careena (Mrs.) of the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile Court) and were convicted on charges related to the destruction of government property, each sentenced to a month’s imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Expressing satisfaction with the court’s judgment, Cole emphasized that such penalties would act as deterrents to others contemplating sabotaging government property for personal gains, an act that starkly contravenes the State’s Criminal and Environmental Laws.
In light of these events, Cole also issued a stern warning against street trading, advising traders to refrain from displaying their goods in unauthorized locations such as traffic, gutters, setbacks, road verges, medians, and kerbs. He further urged Lagos residents to adhere to proper waste disposal practices through approved PSP operators, reinforcing the importance of maintaining a clean and lawful environment in Lagos.
This conviction marks a significant step towards safeguarding public infrastructure and reinforcing the rule of law in managing the city’s environmental and sanitation challenges.
Ajayi Lukman, Head of the Public Affairs Unit at LAGESC, underscored the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety and cleanliness of Lagos’s public spaces, urging community cooperation in preserving the city’s infrastructure.
17 Miscreants Sentenced for Vandalizing Polycarbonate Roofs on Pedestrian Bridges in Lagos
The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Tuesday revealed how 17 miscreants were apprehended and subsequently convicted by a Lagos Magistrate Court
1/2— Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (@LAGESCOfficial) March 26, 2024
Tuesday, 26th of March, 2024