By Oluseye Ojo
Oyo State Government has set up a taskforce, mobile court and tribunal to arrest, prosecute and pronounce judgment on violators of anti-open grazing laws, street trading, solid wastes disposal system, and persons dumping building materials on public roads.
The Chairperson, Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA)
Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd), made the disclosure during an interview with journalists on the side-lines of a two-day training on legal framework and the psychology of law enforcement with the theme: Strategies for Effective Compliance, held in Ibadan.
According to her, the taskforce apprehended nine cows being grazed openly in front of Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan recently, and the owner of the cows was taken before the court and tried same day. She added that judgment was also delivered on the same day. The owner of the cow, she stated, was sentenced to five-year jail term with an option of N1.7million fine.
The programme, organised by OYRLEA, in conjunction with BUC Digital Solutions, drew about 100 participants from different agencies of the state government, including Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Environmental Protection and Sanitation, Anti-Open Rearing and Open Grazing Prohibition Law.
Aderemi cautioned owners of wandering animals, including goats and cows, in the state, especially those that have been destroying farm products and property of other people to desist from such carelessness or risk being sentenced to jail.
“Those rearing cows and destroying farm plantations, like cassava, soybean, beans and every other thing. The first thing is that the amount that the magistrate will pronounce may be N500,000, N2million or more. Then, whatever they have destroyed, would be valued and the owner of the cows or goats will have to pay.”
Aderemi also read the riot act to people engaging in street trading to desist from such act in order to avoid facing the full wrath of the law.
Aderemi also cautioned motorists that have not been obeying traffic rules in the state to turn over a new leaf, before it would be too late for them.