From Jimoh Joseph, Ado Ekiti
No fewer than 20 persons were sentenced to prison in Ado metropolis, the Ekiti State capital on Saturday for failing to participate in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
They were arrested by the state environmental sanitation officers for indiscriminate dumping of refuse and disregard for the official restriction of movement during the exercise.
The presiding Magistrate of the mobile court, Mrs. Modupe Afeniforo, who sent the convicts to prison terms ranging from one to two months however gave them options of fine between three thousand Naira and Five thousand Naira in lieu of the prison sentences.
Mrs Afeniforo noted that the sentences would not only serve as punishment but also as a deterrent to people that may be tempted to commit similar offences.
Reacting to the development, the State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Bisi Kolawole warned that government would continue to prosecute anybody caught flouting environmental and sanitation laws in the State.
Stressing the need for residents to take care of their environment in order to prevent flooding and avoidable outbreak of epidemic, Kolawole noted the usually devastating effect of flooding and called on the people not to allow anybody to indiscriminately dump refuse in the waterways or do anything that would block canals in the State.
He also solicited for continued support for government’s efforts at making life more meaningful for people in the State, urging them to make judicious use of the Dino bins provided at designated areas by government towards achieving the desired result.
