A man identified as Sodiq Oyewummi has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for stealing electrical cables from the Oke-Afa Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lagos State.

Oyewummi was caught in the act by vigilant plant officials while attempting to remove electrical cables from the government-owned facility, which operates under the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO).

Following his arrest, the suspect was immediately handed over to the Lagos State Taskforce Environmental and Special Offences Court for prosecution. He faced a three-count charge including conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, willful damage to government property, and theft of government property.

Court records show that Oyewummi pleaded guilty to the first and third counts and was convicted accordingly.

Zero-Tolerance Policy on Infrastructure Vandalism

Engr Adefemi Afolabi, General Manager of the LSWMO, emphasized the seriousness of the offense and praised the swift judicial response to the crime.

"This conviction reinforces the Lagos State Government's zero-tolerance policy on public infrastructure vandalism," Engr Afolabi stated.

He further noted that the prompt legal action should serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate similar acts of vandalism against public utilities and reaffirmed the agency's resolve to safeguard public infrastructure.

"LSWMO remains steadfast in its commitment to monitoring and maintaining the state's wastewater treatment facilities to ensure they operate optimally and serve the public effectively," he added.

The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity around critical infrastructure to the appropriate authorities.

This case highlights ongoing challenges in protecting essential public utilities in Lagos State, where infrastructure vandalism continues to pose significant operational and financial challenges to government agencies.