The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) has commenced a mobile court enforcement exercise against illegal trading and other activities obstructing roads, pedestrian walkways, drainage channels and other public spaces across the state.‍

The enforcement operation, which took place at Bodija Market, Ibadan, resulted in the arraignment and conviction of some offenders accused of violating laws regulating the use of public spaces.

The state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.

According to him, the sustained enforcement operations by the authority led to the arraignment of several persons accused of displaying and selling goods on roads, pedestrian walkways, drainage channels and other unauthorised public spaces.

He said the mobile court was presided over by Magistrate Olaniyan Folake Rachael, who considered cases brought before the court.

Oyelade said some of the defendants were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with an option of N30,000 fine, while others were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety each.

He added that the sureties were required to provide traceable addresses and valid means of identification, while cases involving defendants granted bail were adjourned until September 11, 2026, for hearing.

The enforcement exercise followed sustained sensitisation campaigns and previous operations by OYRLEA aimed at discouraging illegal trading and other activities on roads, walkways and drainage channels.

Speaking at the scene on behalf of the OYRLEA Chairperson, Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd.), the Chief of Staff to the Chairperson, Kofoworola Akinbode, said the deployment of the mobile court was necessary to restore order to market environments and reinforce the authority’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

She said the exercise demonstrated the government’s resolve to complement sensitisation with appropriate enforcement measures where violations persisted.

“The exercise was a further demonstration of the government’s resolve to complement sensitisation with appropriate enforcement measures where violations persist,” she said.

Akinbode urged residents and traders to comply with existing laws and regulations governing the use of public spaces.

She reiterated OYRLEA’s commitment to protecting public spaces and promoting a safe, orderly and conducive environment for residents, traders, pedestrians and motorists.

Some market users expressed support for the enforcement exercise, saying indiscriminate display of goods on roads and walkways had continued to obstruct the free movement of pedestrians and motorists, while creating safety concerns and increasing the risk of avoidable accidents.