Twelve people have been convicted by a mobile court in Kwara State for breaking environmental laws after blocking roads and walkways at Ilorin Central Market, also known as Oja-Oba.
The court, which began sitting on Monday, found the offenders guilty of placing goods on roads and pedestrian walkways despite several warnings and awareness campaigns by the state government.
According to a statement from the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Muritala Shakirat, the court sat within the market area to make enforcement more direct and effective. The court team included a Chief Magistrate, Environmental Health Officers, and security personnel.
Presiding Magistrate Muhammad Aluko ruled that the offenders were guilty under Kwara State’s environmental laws but gave them an option to pay fines since it was their first time being caught. The fines were paid immediately through the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, whose staff were present at the court sitting.
After the court session, the state Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge, sent a message through the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla. He thanked the security agencies and other partners for helping to ensure that the market area remains clean and safe.
“We must all do the needful to maintain and preserve the investments into evolving a cleaner Kwara, championed by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration,” the message said.
The commissioner’s team also visited the mobile court to monitor the process. She stressed the importance of saying no to dirty habits like dumping refuse carelessly or using roads as market stalls, warning that such practices are dangerous and illegal.
Those who joined the monitoring visit included the Senior Special Assistant on Environmental Protection, Mohammed Muazu, and other top officials of the ministry.
The Kwara State Government says the court will continue its work across more locations to ensure full compliance with environmental laws.
