Sanitation: Six landlords jailed in Ondo

A Mobile court sitting in Ondo town, presided over by Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi has sentenced six landlords to six months imprisonment each with hard labour. Prosecutors Elizabeth Akinfemisoye and Adejoke Olarewaju, said the landlords were arraigned in the court over four-count charge.

This ranged from their inability to provide latrine accommodation in their various places of domicile, since the existing one is filled up and liable to cause epidemic in the area.

The landlords were also accused of failing to amend the dilapidated walls in their premises.

They were also accused of defecating indiscriminately around their premises; the development which the health officers claimed was capable of causing outbreak of diseases in the area.

They were also alleged to have failed to provide sanitary kitchen and bathroom in their houses since the existing one is unsanitary and exposes the users.

The offences the health officers claimed have contradicted and contrary to section 8, part II, cap 52 and punishable under same section and sub-section o, p, r, and a of Ondo State environmental sanitation law of 2004.

When the charges were read to all the accused persons, they all pleaded  guilty,however, after listening to the application of both the prosecutors  and the accused persons, the presiding Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi, sentenced the landlords to six months imprisonment each  or pay the sum of N10,000 in lieu of the fine.

Similarly, five residential buildings located in various parts of the community were also ordered to be sealed-off by the court.

The developed was hinged on what it described as poor sanitary conditions and non-compliance with environmental sanitation laws.

The sealing off operations which was sequel to an order granted by the court and was led by Mrs. Elizabeth  Akinfemisoye, a Principal Environmental Health Officer (PEHO) who is also  in charge of prosecution in the Local Government.

The  Environmental Officer who relied on section 1, 15, 16, 18 and 22 of the Ondo State Waste Management Enforcement and offenses provision regulation of year 2004, Ondo State Environmental Sanitation Law of 2004 and Environmental Sanitation Edict of 1986 in bringing the matter to the court.

The Nation