Appeal Court Orders Stay Of Execution On Edo Waste Mgt Board Ruling

The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, on Thursday, ordered
a stay of execution of an order by the Edo State High Court, which
nullified the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law,
and restrained the Edo State Waste Management Board and its agents
from performing its roles.

With the order, the Edo Waste Management Board now has the
leeway to carry on with the responsibility of waste management and
disposal, and its agents permitted to go about their lawful
business.

Reacting to the development, Philip Shaibu, the acting governor
of Edo State, has given a two-week ultimatum to the state Ministry
of Environment and Sustainability to embark on a state-wide cleanup
of the state, urging the public to cooperate with the ministry in
ensuring that major roads and streets were rid of dirt and
debris.

He charged the ministry to pay particular attention to election
posters and other wastes resulting from political campaigns.

Recall that the Edo State High Court had ordered the disbandment
of the Waste Management Board and declared that its acts of
licensing, registration, contracting of waste managers with powers
to charge fees and instigate criminal prosecution were
unconstitutional, illegal and of no legal effect.

But with the order by the Court of Appeal, the Edo State Waste
Management Board can now mobilise resources to ensuring that the
state is rid of pollution and waste.