Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday directed the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, to execute a warrant of arrest for the Managing Director of Ojibas Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Tajudeen Abioye, over a petition alleging his involvement in illegal mining operations causing severe environmental degradation in Elegan Progressive Community.

A report by the House Committee on Environment regarding a petition from the community had accused Ojibas Nigeria Limited and I.J. Amaka Group of Companies of engaging in illegal mining operations that had caused serious environmental degradation to roads, water sources, and farmlands.

It was learnt from the report that several invitations extended to Abioye to appear before the Assembly in the course of the investigation were not honoured, leading to his warrant of arrest.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, who issued the warrant shortly after the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Environment leading to the passage of a resolution, asked CP Ogunlowo to produce Abioye before the Assembly to answer questions concerning the petition.

?By the powers conferred on me under Section 129(1)(d) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I hereby issue a warrant to compel the attendance of Alhaji Tajudeen Abioye, Managing Director of Ojibas Nigeria Limited, and therefore call on the State Commissioner of Police to execute the warrant as a matter of urgency and public importance, and produce him before this Honourable House to respond to issues arising from a petition under investigation,? he declared.

Elemide equally reaffirmed the Assembly?s commitment to ensuring accountability and environmental justice, stressing that the House would not condone any form of exploitation that endangered lives or livelihoods.

Similarly, to show their grievances, residents of the community, led by one Pastor Samuel Fadeyinoluwa, also staged a peaceful protest to the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, demanding government intervention over the environmental degradation caused by Abioye?s company, located in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

The protesters, drawn from communities including Abisodun, Adeolu, Oke-Odo, Oluwo Osin, Aiyetoro, Age, Ajerogun, and Bisodun in Obafemi-Owode Council, lamented the extensive environmental damage caused by the mining activities and sought immediate government intervention.

The Speaker, however, assured the protesters that the matter was already under investigation by the House Committee on Environment and that appropriate legislative action would be taken to address their grievances. (The Guardian)

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