Lagos Mobile Courts Convict Over 40 offenders

In the last few days, the newly-inaugurated Lagos State Mobile Courts have sprung into action and operatewd in some parts of the state where many offenders were arrested and prosecuted.

 

A Unit of the Lagos Mobile Court during operation.

 

On Thursday, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expresway, specifically, Ikeja Along Bus Stop, a unit of the mobile court prosecuted pedestrians who did not use the bridge as well as motorists who were caught driving against traffic. Also, on Wednesday the courts convicted 41, out of 52 prosecuted traffic and environmental offenders.

  The Lagos State Government inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile) Courts  on 5 February, 2016, with mandate to return sanity to Lagos roads.

  According to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force), 14 people were arrested within Agege, 22 from Oshodi and 16 at areas in Apapa, totalling 52 offenders in all.

A statement by Public Affairs Officer of the Task Force, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, indicated that the mobile courts, which held at open spots at Apapa, Oshodi and Agege Local Government Areas, involved magistrates, lawyers, representatives from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), registrars, cashiers, policemen and towing vehicles.

“Two motorcyclists and four tricycle revenue collectors that were also prosecuted, had their cases struck out for lack of proper documentary evidence.

“Trial in the cases of the remaining five tricycle operators have been adjourned till Thursday, Feb. 11.

“The adjournment was to enable prosecuting counsel, Mr Jimoh Quadri, produce and tender videos and pictures of exact location of arrest from Mr Wilson Alaba, the police officer who Led the operations from the Lagos State Task Force, as evidence to guide the court’s proceedings,’’ The Task Force explained..

  From the 52 prosecutions, 41 were convicted for offences punishable under Section 10 (1) (a) Street Trading and Illegal Markets Prohibition Law of 2003, and were made to pay various fines as options to terms of three to six months imprisonment.

  Magistrates on duty during the mobile courts operations included Mr Nurudeen Layeni (Agege Local Government), Mr Olalekan Aka-Bashorun (Apapa Local Government) and Mr Patrick Nwaka (Oshodi Local Government).

It said that with the commencement of prosecution by the mobile courts, there would be sanity in the system as drivers and riders, including other members of the public, were now expected to comport themselves.

Environmental Laws.