Court Convicts 18 for Open Defecation and Illegal Waste Disposal on Road Median in Oyo State

The Oyo State Ministry of Environment has secured the conviction of eighteen persons for various environmental offenses as part of its ongoing enforcement drive to promote a cleaner and healthier environment across the state.

According to a statement from the Ministry, two persons were arrested for open defecation, while sixteen others were apprehended and arraigned for illegal dumping of refuse on the road median.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, October 15, 2025, Justice Jubril of the Environmental Court found all the offenders guilty of contravening the Oyo State Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management Law, which prohibits open defecation and indiscriminate disposal of waste in public places.

Justice Jubril described their actions as a public nuisance and a threat to environmental hygiene, warning that the court would continue to apply the law strictly against anyone found violating sanitation regulations.

In his remarks, a representative of the Oyo State Ministry of Environment reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring environmental cleanliness and public health, stressing that the ministry will not relent in its monitoring and enforcement efforts.

Residents were also advised to always make use of approved waste disposal channels and public conveniences to avoid prosecution.