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Court convicts 95 sanitation offenders in Edo

By NAN
31 October 2015   |   11:40 am
Two Mobile Courts sitting in Benin on Saturday convicted 95 people for various sanitation offences in the state monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Chief Magistrate Ihenyen Aigbediofe convicted 60 people at Kilometre 6, while Magistrate Osamudiamen Afe, convicted 35 people at Oredo. While some were convicted for not participating in the exercise, the others were convicted…

courtTwo Mobile Courts sitting in Benin on Saturday convicted 95 people for various sanitation offences in the state monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Chief Magistrate Ihenyen Aigbediofe convicted 60 people at Kilometre 6, while Magistrate Osamudiamen Afe, convicted 35 people at Oredo.

While some were convicted for not participating in the exercise, the others were convicted for wandering and obstructing sanitation officials from discharging their duties.

The presiding Magistrates sentenced the accused persons to various terms of imprisonment or an option of fines of between N5,000 and N7,000, respectively.

The Chief Prosecution, Mr Pius Oiwoh, advised the people to always obey sanitation laws to avoid conviction.

Mr Yusuf Osagie, the Chairman of the Edo State Committee on Environment, described cleanliness as next to Godliness

Osagie said the punishment would serve as a deterrent to others who deliberately violate sanitation law, adding that the offences contravened the Edo State Sanitation law.

He advised churches to close from their prayer programmes early before the commencement of the exercise.

2 Comments

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    This is absolute rubbish! Convicting people for such “trivial issue’ is not sensible even if the intention is to inculcate the practice into the public. Imagine convicting people for “not participating or wandering.” Not that they where caught defecating or throwing refuse in public places, etc. So, if at the time of sanitation an important appointment or opportunity suddenly shows up or, there is an emergency that needs urgent attention people should not move? The punishment or rather “conviction” of people for this so called offenses is too HEAVY! Who convicts the government when they fail to remove heavy heap of rubbish/refuse we see in public places! I do not support uncleanliness and will not support when the masses are terrorized and dehumanized: Check this list of the people convicted you will not find any so called “big” man’s name among the CONVICTS, even if they were among those caught!. Lesser punishment without futuristic effect should be used. Please!!! And what constitutes an environmental offense be critically x-rayed. Please do not use this law to turn future leaders to outlaws!

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