It is no longer business as usual in Akwa Ibom State as the Environmental Sanitation Court, sitting in Uyo, has prosecuted six individuals for various offenses, marking a decisive shift towards stricter enforcement of the Environmental Laws of the State.
The offenders include two operators of a prayer house in Itiam Etoi village, Kufre Etim Ekpenyong, and a second defendant, Micah Edet, who remains at large, as well as the owner of Vineyard Spots Bar located on Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo.
Additionally, three other individuals from Mbiakpan Atan village in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, namely Nyaknno Augustine John, Ekom Eyo Etim, and Ubong Effiong, were charged for failing to participate in the Environmental Sanitation exercise in their community. These actions contravene Section 38 of the Akwa Ibom State Public Health Laws, Cap 119, Volume 5 of 2022.
The court stated that the prayer house operators faced a 10-count charge, including excessive noise pollution, creating a public nuisance, failing to provide adequate ventilation for worshippers, and neglecting to install basic sanitation facilities such as wash basins, gender-specific toilets, refuse bins, a standard generator house, and an emergency exit.
They were also charged with failing to ensure all loudspeakers were housed internally and that the noise levels did not exceed 80 decibels, thereby violating the Public Health Rule, Part 2 (30), and punishable under Part 4, Section 46 of the Akwa Ibom State Public Health Laws, Cap 113, Volume 5 of 2000.
In a related offense, the prayer house operators were also accused of inciting their congregation to assault an elderly man, whom they suspected of reporting them to the police.
The court heard that the worshippers allegedly attacked the man, causing physical harm and property damage. The complainant presented photographic evidence to support these claims.
Meanwhile, the Presiding Magistrate, Senior Magistrate Amanda Effiom, granted the prayer house owner bail in the sum of ₦200,000, with a stern warning against any further harassment of the complainant. The case was adjourned to September 11, 2024, for further hearing.
In the case of the sanitation defaulters, the court granted bail with conditions ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦30,000.
Some of the defendants were also ordered to undertake community service, specifically the cutting of grass, for two days as part of their penalty.
