A Special Offences Mobile Court sitting in Oshodi, Lagos State, on Monday sentenced a 48-year-old man, Makinde Rasaq, to 13 months of community service for illegally dumping refuse on Lagos Island.
Rasaq was arrested while driving a Honda SUV loaded with waste and later pleaded guilty to seven charges. The offences included breach of public peace, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, failure to patronise approved waste collectors, illegal transportation of waste without a valid licence, and obstruction of government officials while carrying out their duties.
The court ordered that all the sentences be served as community service at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, bringing the total punishment to 13 months.
READ ALSO: Tinubu submits 2026–2028 fiscal framework to Senate, begins new budget cycle
According to officials, the convict was caught late Saturday night dumping refuse at the Tinubu Fountain in Central Lagos. Authorities suspect he may be part of an organised group deliberately dumping waste in public places to create a negative image of the city.
Following his arrest, Rasaq was first detained at Adeniji Adele Police Station before being handed over to officers of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) task force. He was subsequently arraigned by legal officers from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
Reacting to the judgment, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the conviction sends a strong message that the state will not tolerate illegal waste disposal.
“This conviction clearly shows that Lagos has zero tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Gbadegesin said. He urged residents to always dispose of their waste properly by engaging LAWMA-accredited Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, in line with the state’s environmental laws.
“Waste generation is unavoidable, but residents must use approved PSP operators to ensure effective waste management and keep Lagos clean,” he added.
