Lagos State Government has arraigned seven persons before the Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly assaulting enforcement operatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) during an environmental enforcement operation.

The defendants, Olamilekan Abdullahi (21), Akeem Olamilekan (24), Frank Tom (25), SakirubJamiu (20), Emmanuel Abiodun (41), Olarewanju Onyowale (35), and Taiwo Yusuf (30), were apprehended by LAWMA enforcement personnel on March 8, 2026, within the MoshalashiJimoh axis in Lagos Island during routine monitoring against indiscriminate waste disposal.

They were arraigned on five counts bordering on conduct likely to cause breach of peace, indiscriminate dumping of refuse at an unapproved location, failure to patronise an approved Private Sector Participant (PSP) waste operator, obstruction of officers in the discharge of their duties and assault.

All seven defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read before the court.

The court thereafter adjourned the case till April 24, 2026, for trial and admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two responsible sureties, one of whom must be a recognised community leader while the other must be a gainfully employed relative.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the defendants were remanded in a correctional facility.

LAWMA warns that obstruction or assault of enforcement personnel constitutes a serious offence under the laws of Lagos, reiterating that acts capable of undermining environmental enforcement operations would be firmly addressed through appropriate legal channels.