Twenty-seven persons were convicted at the weekend by a Mobile Court sitting in Awka for violating Environmental Sanitation Laws. Those convicted were fined various sums of money depending on their level of violations.
Chief Magistrate, Esther Charles-Chukwu while applauding the Sanitation Board pointed out that Sections 22 and 24 of the Sanitation Laws of the state stipulate that between the hours of 7 am to 10 am on the last Saturday of every month, everyone within Anambra State is to stay at home and conduct sanitation and if found contravening the law, there are stipulated fines attached according to one’s category of offence.
The Mobile Court Initiative by the Anambra State Ministry of Environment enhances the quick prosecution of offenders and compels residents to participate actively in the monthly sanitation exercise.
Speaking about it, Mrs. Ifeoma Onuzulike from the Ministry of Environment said that the whole idea is to encourage people to imbibe the culture of caring for the environment as Anambra state is faced with lots of environmental challenges and needs a positive campaign that will protect the environment.
One of the defaulters who pleaded guilty promised to henceforth keep the last Saturday of every month sacred as she never knew that there were penalties for defaulters and advised others to learn from her mistakes and stay at home while observing the monthly sanitation exercise.
