Delta Agency Arraigns 18 Environmental Offenders, Secures 17 Convictions

Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DCTDA) has secured the conviction of 17 offenders while one defendant was discharged.

The 18 persons and corporate bodies were arraigned before a competent court over various environmental offences, with warning that more offenders would be prosecuted as the agency intensifies efforts to rid the Capital Territory of environmental infractions.

Some of the convicted offenders include Otutu Resources, Nnebisi Road, for operating in a dirty environment and trading on the setback; Martins I.C., for dirty premises and trading on setbacks; Turner Bakery, for non-compliance with environmental requirements; and the landlord/occupier of Silver House, for discharging obnoxious waste water into public drains.

The action, initiated by the director general of the Agency, Patrick Ukah, is part of ongoing efforts to enforce environmental laws and ensure a cleaner and more orderly capital territory.

Speaking on the development, Ukah said the agency would sustain the enforcement exercise, adding that the era of disregard for environmental laws was over.

According to him, there would be no mercy for persons or organisations found violating environmental regulations, stressing that all offenders would be made to face the full weight of the law until the Capital Territory is clean.

He said the sgency remained committed to ensuring compliance with sanitation standards and urban regulations, urging residents, traders and business operators to maintain clean premises and comply with all environmental requirements to avoid prosecution.