Sodiq Oyewummi has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for stealing electrical cables from the Oke-Afa Wastewater Treatment Plant, a critical infrastructure operated by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO).
LSWMO, in a statement on Saturday, said Oyewummi was caught in the act by vigilant personnel stationed at the facility and was immediately handed over to the Lagos State Taskforce Environmental and Special Offences Court.
He was arraigned on a three-count charge, including conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, wilful damage to government property, and theft of government property.
READ ALSO: Lagos advances EMR rollout in primary healthcare centres
Oyewummi pleaded guilty to the first and third charges and was consequently convicted and sentenced.
Reacting to the development, the General Manager of LSWMO, Adefemi Afolabi, said the conviction sends a strong message that vandalism of public infrastructure will not be tolerated.
“This conviction reinforces the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance policy on public infrastructure vandalism,” Afolabi stated.
He added that the swift legal response serves as a deterrent and underscores the state government’s commitment to safeguarding public assets.
“LSWMO remains steadfast in its commitment to monitoring and maintaining the state’s wastewater treatment facilities to ensure they function effectively and continue to serve the public,” he added.
READ ALSO: Lagos shifts from linear waste disposal, signs major concession deal with private firm
The LSWMO urged members of the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activities around public utilities.
This conviction, LSWMO said highlights the state government’s determination to protect essential public infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted service delivery in line with its #AGreaterLagosRising agenda.
