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The Oyo State Environmental Mobile and Tribunal Court has convicted 13 individuals for operating unlicensed diesel sales along the Toll Gate axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway without the necessary permits.
Each defendant has been fined ₦200,000 or risks a five-year prison term for violating the state’s environmental laws concerning hazardous waste.
During the judgment at the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) in Ibadan, Presiding Judge Barrister Jubreel Adio stated that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. He noted that while the standard penalty is ₦5 million, the court opted for a reduced fine since this was the defendants’ first offense.
The judge warned, “Let this serve as a deterrent. Any defendant who reappears will face the full weight of the law.”
Community leaders Alhaji Olalere Taiwo Hassan and Mr. Saheed Folarin acted as sureties for the convicted individuals, with Alhaji Hassan offering his vehicle documents as collateral until fines are paid.
The judge reiterated the tribunal’s goal of enforcing compliance to protect the environment and public safety, stating, “This court is not for extortion; today, you are fortunate, but next time, you may not meet a lenient judge.”
