The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Wednesday secured the conviction of 12 Commercial Sex Workers (CSW) to 8 months imprisonment for offences bordering on prostitution, breach of peace.
The operation took place in Obalende area of the state during a dislodgement operation led by the Corps Marshal of the Agency.
The Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) disclosed that the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has stated the need for the state to be habitable for business prompting the need for LAGESC to launch a large-scale enforcement operation.
Major Cole stressed that those arrested are ‘nefarious elements that want to desecrate our environment’ and there is need to reduce the spate of environmental infraction in the area, as it has deteriorated over time.
The Corps Marshal released the name of the suspects: Oluwaseun Durojaye, F, 20, Joy Felix, F, 24, Opeyemi Azeez, F, 25, Precious Mathew, F, 24, Happiness Kingsley, F, 24, Theresa Edet, F, 30, Ayo Olanrewaju, F, 20, Monica Ebuka, F, 21, Blessing James, F, 22, Favour Samuel, F, 34, Janet Ighumba, F, 24, Marvis Ifeoma, F, 32, Adeyanju Clara, F, 24, Favour Johnson, F, 34, Joy Rafael, F, 24, Promise Joseph, F, 23, Favour Ajoor, F, 28, Joy Onyekachi, F, 28 and Emmanuel Friday, F, 20 were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adefioye of the Special Offences Court at Oshodi for offences contrary to Section 142(1)(a)(b) and 168(1) (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State as 12 out of 19 suspects bagged 8 months imprisonment while 7 others who pleaded not guilty were remanded in prison custody until December 18 for further hearing.
Applauding the judgement, Cole insisted that despite the attacks recorded towards operatives in the line of duty, the Agency remains undeterred by the acts of these nefarious elements, stressing that any arrested defaulter will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Cole read the riot act to street traders, hawkers to refrain from the display of wares for sale on setbacks, lay-bys, medians, road verges, kerbs, gutter slabs just as he enjoined pedestrians alike to make use of the pedestrian bridges when crossing highways as defaulters will be arrested on a daily and made to face prosecution for endangering their lives

Credit: Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps