Thirty-two individuals have been convicted by a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti for violating the Ekiti State Environmental Health and Sanitation Laws during the routine sanitation exercise conducted on Saturday.
Presiding Magistrate Olubunmi Bamidele found the offenders guilty of disregarding the state’s environmental regulations. Delivering judgment, she stated that the convictions should serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to flout sanitation laws.
Of the 32 offenders, 21 were given the option to pay fines, while the remaining 11 were sentenced to carry out community service. However, 11 other persons who had initially been apprehended were discharged by the court after a review of their individual cases revealed insufficient grounds for conviction.
In a related development, the Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation at the Ekiti State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Ayodele Aluko, urged residents to prioritize environmental hygiene. Speaking during Saturday’s exercise, Aluko emphasized that regular environmental cleaning should become a way of life to help curb the spread of infectious diseases.
“Cleanliness is not just a civic duty; it is a critical part of maintaining public health,” Aluko said, encouraging citizens to embrace routine sanitation beyond government-enforced exercises.
