The Oyo State Environmental Mobile and Tribunal Court convicted 13 people who operated unauthorized diesel sales businesses along the Toll Gate axis of the Lagos-Ibadan highway.
Convicts who violated environmental rules by operating without permission were fined ₦200,000 or sentenced to five years in prison.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, and received on Monday.
The judgment, according to the statement, was handed at the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) headquarters in Ibadan.
The Presiding Judge, Jubreel Adio, noted that selling diesel and petroleum products without proper authorization poses substantial environmental and safety risks and carries serious penalties under Oyo State Environmental Laws and Regulations.
The release described the judge as saying, “The defendants admitted to operating without the necessary approvals and pleaded for leniency.” However, ignorance of the law does not constitute an excuse.
Although the standard penalty for the infraction is ₦5 million or a five-year prison term, the court granted leniency as the perpetrators were first-time violators who looked to be ordinary businessmen. Each received a reduced fine of ₦200,000 as a warning.
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“Let this be a deterrent to others.” If any of the defendants reappear before this panel, they will face the full force of the law without mercy,” Barrister Jubreel said.
As part of a goodwill gesture, two community leaders, Mr. Olalere Hassan and Mr. Saheed Folarin, offered to serve as sureties for the condemned persons.
Hassan put the documentation for his silver 2006 Toyota RAV4 registered as LLD 587JQ as collateral until all fines were paid.
The presiding judge reiterated that if the fines are not paid, the sureties will be held accountable.
He did, however, underline that the tribunal’s goal is not to penalize people arbitrarily, but to enforce compliance, protect the environment, and maintain public safety.
“We have previously penalized similar criminals up to ₦1 million each. This court exists to enforce the law, not to extract money. Today, you are fortunate. “The next time, you might not meet a lenient judge,” the message warned.
