A Mobile Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, has sentenced 30 persons to two months’ imprisonment each for vandalising and removing iron rods supporting bridges across the state.
The convicts were arraigned before the court on Friday after they were arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism of structural components of the Alakija, Trade Fair, Orile and Abule-Ado bridges.
They pleaded guilty to the charges, following which the court convicted and sentenced each of them to two months in prison.
The prosecution alleged that the suspects removed iron rods supporting the bridges, an act capable of weakening critical infrastructure and putting the lives of motorists and other road users at risk.
Those convicted are Aminu Muhammed, Alamin Ibrahim, Bashiru Kabiru, Ibrahim Usman, Muritala Abdullahi, Nnana Obi, Umoru Haruna, Monsuru Abubakar, Muktari Aminu and Ayodele Abiodun.
Others are Destiny Peter, Akolade Oluwaseun, Raphael Ugoji, Misa Zaki, Kabiru Nosiru, Rabiu Zachariah, Yahaya Abdulrasheed, Olamilekan Mufutau, Azeez Balogun and Daniel Ayeru.
The remaining convicts are Bello Kabiru, Rasheed Akanni, Abdul Muhammad, Ahmeed Sanni, Jubril Lawal, Nurudeen Idris, Okazie Maxwell, Emmanuel Chibuzor, Alaba Mufutau and Esther Emmanuel.
The convictions come amid growing concern over the vandalism of public infrastructure in Lagos, particularly the removal of metal components from bridges, road installations and other government facilities for economic gain.
The latest convictions are expected to reinforce the authorities’ crackdown on the vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly facilities considered critical to public safety and transportation.