Lagos Magistrate Court Hands Down 3-Month Jail Terms to Lagos Residents Caught Defecating in Public Spaces

 

A Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade Oshodi delivered a stern message on Monday, June 16, by sentencing thirteen individuals to three months imprisonment each for engaging in open defecation and urination. The convictions mark a significant move by authorities to curb the rising menace of public sanitation offenses in Agege and Alimosho, two densely populated areas in Lagos State.

Charged and sentenced on the same day, the accused—ranging in age from 20 to 55—each pleaded guilty to the offense when arraigned before the magistrate. Their names and ages were listed in court documents as follows: Friday Samuel (49), Sulaimon Olalekan (54), Idris Jimoh (45), Alao Babatunde (54), Chinonso Dominic (21), Akeem Suraju (42), Lawal Idris (29), Oluwatobi Adebayo (30), Ismaila Adeyemi (35), Murtala Jamilu (20), Samson Memudia (54), Jamilu Abdullahi (29), and Ganiyu Akeem (55).

Court officials described the convicted individuals as having been apprehended by sanitation officers during routine monitoring activities in the early hours of the morning. These patrols are part of an intensified campaign by the Lagos State Government to enforce environmental laws and promote cleaner, safer communities.

Residents of Agege and Alimosho, familiar with the environmental and health hazards posed by open defecation, have reportedly voiced support for stronger enforcement measures. While some expressed sympathy for those sentenced, others emphasized the need for consequences to deter what they described as “a stubborn public health issue that degrades both environment and dignity.”

Lagos State authorities have ramped up efforts in recent years to eliminate open defecation, an act classified as a criminal offense under existing sanitation and public health laws. The Environmental Sanitation Corps, commonly referred to as ‘KAI’ (Kick Against Indiscipline), has been tasked with enforcing these laws in public areas, including markets, bus stops, and residential neighborhoods.

Officials argue that these actions are not solely punitive but part of a broader environmental reform. Public health experts point to the dangers of unregulated human waste, including waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. According to data from the World Health Organization, open defecation remains a leading contributor to these preventable diseases, especially in urban areas with poor drainage and limited sanitation infrastructure.

A source within the Ministry of the Environment, who preferred to remain anonymous, noted that repeated warnings and public education campaigns had preceded the crackdown. “It is unfortunate that people continue to defy the law despite the many awareness drives we’ve carried out. This conviction sends a clear message: no more tolerance for actions that endanger public health,” the source said.

Each of the 13 men convicted was given a three-month custodial sentence without the option of a fine. Observers suggest this signals a shift from earlier judicial practices that offered more leniency in similar cases.

Legal analysts have described the court's decision as a milestone in enforcing environmental laws in the state. “The law is clear, and what we are seeing now is an administration determined to implement it fully,” said Barrister Tunde Adeniyi, a Lagos-based environmental law expert. He noted that while the punishment may seem harsh to some, it aligns with global best practices in tackling sanitation crises in high-density areas.

Though the state government has commissioned public toilets and provided mobile sanitary units in several districts, usage remains inconsistent. Issues such as accessibility, maintenance, and cultural attitudes toward hygiene continue to impede progress.

Some civil society groups have called on the government to complement its enforcement strategy with increased investment in community-based sanitation programs. “You can’t just criminalize poverty and expect behavior to change overnight,” said Kehinde Aina, a member of the Clean Lagos Now initiative. “These men may have acted wrongly, but we also need to ask what options they had.”

The state, meanwhile, appears unwavering. According to recent updates from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), more mobile monitoring teams will be deployed across local government areas with high reports of public urination and defecation.

As the convicted men begin their three-month jail terms, the court's judgment may serve as both a warning and a wake-up call. For Lagos residents and visitors alike, the message is becoming unmistakable: the city is no longer a safe haven for public hygiene violators.

Whether this firm legal stance will lead to lasting behavioral change remains to be seen. However, the court’s action has undeniably raised the stakes in the battle for a cleaner, more sanitary Lagos.