A Magistrate Court in Akure has remanded a suspect, identified as Olorunwa Sunday, at the Olokuta Correctional Centre over the illegal discharge of offensive waste believed to be linked to the foul odour recently reported in parts of Ondo State.
The Ondo State Waste Management Authority also sealed a shopping complex in Akure after investigations traced the waste to the facility’s toilet system.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority, Mrs Olayinka Alabi, the Managing Director, Mr Olajumbo Adekunle, said the suspect was apprehended while transporting waste matter along Airport Road, Oba-Ile.
According to him, the suspect was arrested following intelligence provided by a concerned resident, after which he was handed over to the police for investigation.
“Somebody was arrested discharging waste matter along Airport Road, Oba-Ile. He was apprehended and taken to the police station.
“He was subsequently taken to court and remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre. Meanwhile, the court has impounded the vehicle he was using to discharge the substance,” Adekunle said.
He noted that the incident could be responsible for the offensive odour experienced in some parts of the state, warning that indiscriminate disposal of waste would no longer be tolerated.
“This could be a possible reason for the foul odour being experienced in parts of Ondo State.
“There are some unscrupulous elements that discharge their waste into gutters and other channels within the city. We are sending a warning to members of the public to desist from discharging faecal matter and other waste indiscriminately. Anybody found guilty will be prosecuted,” he added.
Adekunle disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the waste originated from the toilet facility of Perimetral Shopping Mall, also known as Olukayode Shopping Mall, located on Oba Adesida Road, Akure.
He explained that the waste was packed in large bags and loaded into the vehicle for disposal before the suspect was intercepted.
“As part of efforts by the Waste Management Authority, legal action has been taken to temporarily seal the Perimetral Shopping Mall to enable fumigation of the premises. The vehicle used to discharge the waste has been impounded by the court, while the waste recovered from the suspect has also been fumigated to prevent any contamination at the dump site,” he said.
The agency further stated that the vehicle intercepted during the operation was allegedly used for multiple commercial purposes, including transporting agricultural produce.
“At the same time, the vehicle used to evacuate the waste is also used to transport goods, including tomatoes to Shasha, despite the offensive smell,” Adekunle stated.
Providing further details on the arrest, the Waste Management Authority said the vehicle was intercepted after it was trailed by officials acting on credible intelligence from a patriotic citizen.
“The driver, identified as Olorunwa Sunday, a native of Delta State and resident in Oke-Aro, reportedly stated that he was contracted by a resident to dispose of the suspected malodorous substance at any convenient location,” the agency said.
According to the authority, samples of the recovered substance have been scheduled for laboratory examination and chemical analysis to determine their composition and possible environmental impact.
“The suspected substance will undergo laboratory examination and chemical analysis in order to determine its composition and potential environmental implications. Following the outcome of the analysis and other relevant findings, necessary legal action will be taken in accordance with the state’s environmental laws,” the authority added.
Officials said investigations are ongoing to identify and prosecute all individuals connected to the illegal disposal of the waste.