By Ado Oyeyemi
An Akure Magistrates’ Court has ordered the sealing of Olukayode Shopping Plaza in Akure, Ondo State, over alleged improper disposal of waste suspected to be harmful to public health.
The court also ordered the remand of a driver, identified as Olorunwa Sunday, at the Olokuta Correctional Facility over his alleged involvement in the transportation and indiscriminate disposal of the offensive substance.
The development followed the presentation of evidence by the Ondo State Ministry of Environment that the shopping plaza evacuated a filled soakaway pit manually and allegedly disposed of its contents in a manner capable of creating offensive odour and exposing members of the public to disease.
The ministry further told the court that the private service provider engaged to evacuate the waste was not registered and allegedly discharged the contents by the roadside along the Oba Ile-Airport Road.
According to the ministry, the action resulted in an obnoxious smell capable of posing a threat to public health and the environment.
Speaking while officials sealed the premises, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Akinluyi Omotola, said the government was prompted to approach the court after receiving credible information about a vehicle transporting substances suspected to be emitting an offensive odour.
Akinluyi said a concerned citizen, acting on credible intelligence, alerted the authorities, leading to the vehicle being tracked and intercepted.
He explained that the driver was subsequently handed over to the police for questioning and further investigation.
The driver, according to the Permanent Secretary, disclosed that he was contracted to dispose of the suspected malodorous substance from Olukayode House at any convenient location.
The Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, assured residents that the state government would take necessary measures to safeguard public health and the environment.
Loko said the premises would be properly inspected, including the septic tank, while environmental professionals would fumigate the facility to ensure the safety of occupants and members of the public.
Although the defendant, Olukayode Shopping Plaza, was not represented in court, the judge ordered the premises sealed, citing the sensitivity of the matter and the need to protect public health.
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The case was adjourned until Thursday, September 17, 2026, for further hearing, while the driver was ordered to remain in custody at the correctional facility.
