A Magistrate Court sitting in Owerri has convicted three residents for indiscriminate waste disposal, reinforcing the Imo State government’s crackdown on environmental sanitation offences. The ruling sends a clear warning to residents about the consequences of violating waste management laws.
The convicts — Ikechukwu Nwosu, Ogechi Osuji and Edwin Iheanato — were found guilty of unlawfully dumping refuse within the Hardel Orji District of Owerri. The offence was prosecuted under existing sanitation and environmental protection regulations in the state.
During the court proceedings, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges after they were read and explained to them. The court confirmed that due legal processes were followed in line with applicable environmental laws.
The offences were tried under the Eastern Waste Management Corporation Law No. 2 of 2025, alongside other sanitation regulations governing proper waste disposal across Imo State. The law criminalises indiscriminate dumping in public spaces and residential areas.
After considering their guilty pleas, the magistrate convicted all three defendants accordingly. The court stressed that environmental offences pose serious risks to public health and urban safety.
Each of the convicts was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦50,000 fine. The court noted that the penalty was intended to serve as both punishment and deterrence.
The judgment comes amid renewed enforcement of sanitation laws in Imo State, as authorities intensify efforts to promote environmental cleanliness, prevent flooding, and improve public health standards across urban communities.
