Seven individuals have been arraigned before the Special Offences Mobile Court in Ikeja for allegedly assaulting enforcement officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The incident occurred during an environmental enforcement operation aimed at curbing indiscriminate waste disposal.
The defendants—identified as Olamilekan Abdullahi (21), Akeem Olamilekan (24), Frank Tom (25), Sakiru Jamiu (20), Emmanuel Abiodun (41), Olarewanju Onyowale (35), and Taiwo Yusuf (30)—were apprehended on March 8, 2026. The arrests took place within the Moshalashi Jimoh axis of Lagos Island while LAWMA personnel were conducting routine monitoring.
According to a statement from the Lagos State Government on Thursday, the group was arraigned on March 10, 2026. The prosecution filed a five-count charge against them, including conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, indiscriminate dumping of refuse at unapproved locations, and failure to patronize licensed Private Sector Participant (PSP) waste operators. They were also charged with obstruction of officers in the discharge of their duties and assault.
During the court proceedings, all seven defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Consequently, the court admitted them to bail in the sum of N200,000 each, requiring two responsible sureties. One surety must be a recognized community leader, while the other must be a gainfully employed relative.
Pending the fulfillment of these bail conditions, the defendants were remanded in a correctional facility. The case has been adjourned to April 24, 2026, for trial.
LAWMA has issued a stern warning that any form of harassment, attack, or obstruction of its enforcement officers is a serious criminal offense. The authority emphasized that it would continue to use legal channels to address acts that undermine environmental enforcement operations across Lagos State.
