A Sanitation Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has remanded two scrap metal dealers, identified as Muda Abdulahi and Usani Sani, in prison custody for their alleged involvement in environmental pollution and assault on sanitation taskforce officials.
The two suspects were accused of indiscriminately dumping waste and attempting to assault officials of the Ibom Community Watch (ICW), who are part of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA).
The defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge after being apprehended by enforcement officers along Ring Road 3, Uyo.
Their actions were deemed harmful to the environment and detrimental to the state’s efforts to promote cleanliness.
During the court proceedings, a mild drama unfolded when the defendants claimed not to understand English and refused to respond to the charges.
In accordance with the Criminal Justice Law (CJL), the presiding magistrate, Senior Magistrate Amanda Effiom, interpreted their silence as a plea of “not guilty.”
An Environmental Marshal, who was the prosecution’s first witness, testified that he caught three scrap metal dealers improperly dumping waste.
When he attempted to intervene, the defendants became hostile and tried to stab him with scissors.
The marshal overpowered the suspects and called for police backup, resulting in the arrest of the two defendants.
Magistrate Effiom granted bail to the suspects in the sum of N200,000 each and adjourned the case to January 29, 2025.
This case highlights the continued efforts by the Akwa Ibom state government through AKSEPWMA to raise awareness about the proper disposal of waste.
The state has long advocated for adherence to the 6pm to 6am waste disposal timeframe at designated sites, warning against illegal dumping that poses a significant risk to public health and the environment.
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