A 22-Year-Old Woman Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps Officer
LAGOS/Nigeria: In a recent development, Fasia Ajoke, a 22-year-old woman, has been sentenced to seven months and three weeks imprisonment by a Special Offences Court for assaulting an officer of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), commonly known as KAI.
The incident occurred at Ile-Epo bus stop along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, where Ajoke allegedly assaulted the KAI officer after being directed to use the pedestrian bridge, as stipulated by law in Lagos, rather than crossing the road, which could endanger her life.
According to reports, when the KAI officer approached Ajoke to enforce the law, she resisted lawful arrest and later assaulted the female officer.
Ajoke was subsequently arrested and arraigned before Chief Magistrate S.A Adefioye of the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile Court), Bolade-Oshodi, where she admitted to the act and was sentenced accordingly.
Her offences in court were cited as conduct likely to breach peace, obstruction, and breach of peace while crossing the road.
Major Olaniyi Cole (retd), Corps Marshal of the Agency, expressed his disappointment at the incident, stating, “It is rather unfortunate that despite the efforts our operatives have exhausted on making pedestrian bridges free of hindrances, some people are bent on breaking the law and assaulting officers on lawful duty which would not be tolerated in its entirety.”
Cole reiterated the Agency’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws and prosecuting offenders, emphasizing that assaulting officers on lawful duty will not be tolerated.
In addition to the prison sentence, Ajoke was given the option of paying a fine amounting to 80,000 Naira.
Furthermore, Cole issued a warning to street traders and hawkers, promising to intensify enforcement efforts against those who persistently return to cleared spots.
He also urged Lagos residents, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, to dispose of refuse appropriately by patronizing approved waste management operators, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness, which is cherished by God.
