by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Bayo Akinlade, a former Chairman of the Ikorodu branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has criticised the Lagos State Government for sentencing 13 individuals to three months imprisonment for public urination and open defecation.
The Environmental Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, had on Monday convicted and sentenced the individuals after they were arrested in the Agege and Alimosho areas for engaging in open defecation and urination. All 13 pleaded guilty and were immediately sentenced.
The convicted persons include Friday Samuel (49), Sulaimon Olalekan (54), Idris Jimoh (45), Alao Babatunde (54), Chinonso Dominic (21), Akeem Suraju (42), Lawal Idris (29), Oluwatobi Adebayo (30), Ismaila Adeyemi (35), Murtala Jamilu (20), Samson Memudia (54), Jamilu Abdullahi (29), and Ganiyu Akeem (55).
Reacting to the ruling, Akinlade—who also founded the Duty Solicitors Network (DSN)—condemned the sentence as excessive and counterproductive.
“Do we really believe three months in an already overcrowded prison is the solution?” he asked. “With all the government spending on non-custodial sentencing measures, one would think it’s not all talk.”
He criticised the Lagos State Government for failing to provide adequate public sanitation infrastructure while enforcing laws that criminalise basic human needs.
“Why can’t the Lagos State Government build enough public toilets and require eateries, filling stations, and government offices to allow people to use their toilet facilities to deter such behaviour?” Akinlade queried. “Then you can prosecute people when they violate the law because they won’t have an excuse.”
He further pointed out the irony that even within many government buildings, including courts, toilet facilities remain grossly inadequate.
“This move by the Lagos State Government to enforce a law to punish citizens when no adequate provision is made for them not to violate such law is totally irresponsible and unacceptable,” he said.
Akinlade concluded with a scathing criticism of the current administration, calling on politicians to live up to their promises.
“Lagos is better than this. Politicians can do better! We voted for this government because we had some confidence they meant well, but it appears citizens are being used like paper in ballot boxes—thrown away after elections,” he said.
“A government that cannot provide enough toilets within its own environment yet prosecutes and jails people for relieving themselves is the lowest low. It’s simply bad and irresponsible governance,” he added.