Lagos court sentences a man to 13 months community service for illegal waste dumping, reinforcing the zero-tolerance policy on environmental violations

A Special Offences Mobile Court in Oshodi on Monday sentenced 48-year-old Makinde Rasaq to 13 months of community service at Kirikiri for illegal waste dumping in Lagos State.

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Rasaq, who was arrested last week at Lagos Island with a Honda SUV loaded with refuse, faced seven charges and pleaded guilty to all.

The court handed down varying terms of imprisonment with the option of community service, which cumulatively amounted to 13 months.

“The offences included breach of peace, indiscriminate dumping of waste, failure to patronise Private Sector Participation operators, illegal transportation of waste without a valid licence, and obstruction of government officials in the performance of their duties,” a statement from Lagos State noted.

Authorities apprehended the convict on Saturday night while dumping refuse at Tinubu Fountain in Central Lagos. Investigators suspect he may be part of a syndicate deliberately dumping waste across the state to portray Lagos as unclean.

Following his arrest, Rasaq was detained at Adeniji-Adele Police Station before being handed over to officers of Kick Against Indiscipline for arraignment, led by legal officers from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

Reacting to the ruling, Dr Muyiwa Gbedegesin, Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, said the judgment sends a strong message of zero tolerance for indiscriminate waste disposal.

He urged residents to comply with environmental laws by patronising LAWMA-accredited PSP operators, emphasising that proper waste management remains a collective responsibility.