Lagos govt arraigns seven for allegedly assaulting LAWMA officials
Lagos State Government Charges Seven in Waste Management Assault Case
Seven individuals were arraigned before the Special Offences (Mobile) Court in Ikeja on charges related to an alleged assault on enforcement officials from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The defendants—Olamilekan Abdullahi, 21; Akeem Olamilekan, 24; Frank Tom, 25; Sakiru Jamiu, 20; Emmanuel Abiodun, 41; Olarewanju Onyowale, 35; and Taiwo Yusuf, 30—were taken into custody by LAWMA operatives on March 8, 2026. They were apprehended in the Moshalashi Jimoh area of Lagos Island during a routine environmental monitoring exercise aimed at addressing indiscriminate waste disposal.
The prosecution has brought five counts against the defendants, including conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, illegal dumping of waste at unauthorized locations, failure to hire an authorized Private Sector Participant (PSP) waste operator, obstruction of enforcement officers, and assault.
Following their arraignment, the court has set the next hearing date for April 24, 2026, to initiate the trial. Each defendant was granted bail set at N200,000, contingent upon the provision of two sureties. One must be a recognized community leader, and the other must be a relative with stable employment. Until bail conditions are met, the defendants will remain in a correctional facility.
In response to the incident, LAWMA has reiterated that any obstruction or assault against its enforcement personnel is a serious violation of Lagos State’s environmental laws. The agency cautioned that individuals hindering environmental enforcement operations will be subject to rigorous legal action.
