Lagos lawyer to spend 7 months behind bars over illegal waste disposal

The Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, has sentenced one Taiwo Abidemi, a 67-year-old legal practitioner to seven months imprisonment for what it described as multiple breaches of environmental laws.

Abidemi was arraigned on a three-count charge of breach of peace, indiscriminate dumping of refuse at a place other than an approved waste disposal site, and failure to patronise an approved PSP operator. The offences were said to have been committed at Guinness Road, Agege area of Lagos State on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

The prosecution, led by Adetunji B.E. on behalf of the attorney-general of Lagos State, presented evidence before the court to establish the commission of the offences. Following the presentation, the defendant pleaded guilty as charged.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Adefioye F.J, the chief magistrate, held that the law does not grant exemptions based on status or profession. The court stated that environmental protection is a collective responsibility and that it will not hesitate to convict anyone who undermines public health and safety in the state.

The magistrate further stated that evidence before the court confirmed the defendant’s culpability on all counts. In sentencing, the court ordered one month imprisonment on the first count, and three months each on the second and third counts. The sentences are to run concurrently, amounting to a total of 7 months in jail.

Olufemi Adekunle, the coordinator of the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court, described the ruling as a strong signal to residents and professionals across the state. He affirmed that the Lagos State Government remains committed to enforcing environmental laws without fear or favour.

Adekunle added that no one is above the law when it comes to protecting public infrastructure and the well-being of citizens. He stressed that sustainable cities are built on shared responsibility between government and the people.

The Mobile Court reiterated that it will continue to sit daily across the state to ensure swift adjudication of environmental and related offences. Members of the public are urged to be law abiding in their dealings.

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial and economic hub, is currently afflicted by piles of waste, with roads, street corners and markets taken over. This situation is now worsened by daily torrential rainfall, with concomitant flooding across the state metropolis. As part of efforts to tackle the menace, the state government recently vowed to invoke the relevant environmental laws against persons engaged in indiscriminate and illegal dumping of refuse.