Ogun State House of Assembly lawmakers have ordered the immediate arrest of the Managing Director of Ojibas Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Tajudeen Abioye, and directed that he appear before its disciplinary committee over alleged environmental degradation.
The lawmakers expressed anger over the MD’s unremorseful behavior and directed the State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, to produce Alhaji Abioye before the Assembly to answer allegations of environmental degradation and activities posing serious threats to the lives and livelihoods of residents of the Elegan Progressive Community in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the State.
The order followed a resolution of the House after the adoption of a report by the Committee on Environment, which exposed how the company’s mining operations had caused extensive environmental damage, including the destruction of roads, water sources, and farmlands.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, while issuing the warrant during plenary, invoked the powers conferred on the legislature under Section 129(1)(d) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
He consequently directed the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to execute the warrant and ensure that Alhaji Abioye is produced before the House without delay.
According to the Speaker, the decision became necessary after the company’s Managing Director repeatedly ignored several invitations from the Assembly to appear before the Committee on Environment to defend himself against the allegations.
Elemide reaffirmed the Assembly’s unwavering commitment to accountability, environmental justice, and the rule of law, stressing that the House would not condone actions that endanger the lives of citizens or undermine legislative authority.
“No one is above the law. The Ogun State House of Assembly will continue to stand for justice and defend the rights of the people. We are determined to hold anyone accountable, no matter how highly placed, for actions that destroy our environment or threaten human lives,” the Speaker declared.
In a related development, residents of the Elegan Progressive Community, led by Pastor Samuel Fadeyinoluwa, staged a peaceful protest to the Assembly complex, demanding urgent government intervention to stop further environmental degradation allegedly caused by Ojibas Nigeria Limited.
The protesters, drawn from affected communities including Abisodun, Adeolu, Oke-Odo, Oluwo Osin, Aiyetoro, Age, Ajerogun, and Bisodun, lamented the severe impact of illegal mining on their farmlands, water sources, and infrastructure.
Addressing the protesters, Speaker Elemide assured them that the Assembly, through its Committee on Environment, had already commenced full legislative action to ensure justice and restoration in the affected areas.
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