LAWMA / PSP begin Clampdown on defaulting customers in Abesan, drags them to court!

Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and PSP operators in Abesan Estate have dragged over 200 residents before a Lagos mobile court at Bolade Oshodi for non-payment of refuse package services rendered to them by Cornerstone concepts Ltd., a PSP operator servicing the estate.

After so many attempts by the operators to get the defaulters whose debts range between N10, 000 and N56, 000 to pay their debts proved abortive, they had no choice but to drag them to court.

M.D of Cornerstone concepts, a PSP operator, Pastor Ogunfowokan, while speaking with Abesan News noted that they had on several occasions met with the residents’ association on the issue and pleaded with those owing to either pay or visit their office if they had any complains on their bill.

“While some came and their issues were resolved, most did not show up. We gave them (debtors) enough time to come to us to resolve all payment related issues before seeking the help of the court. While some of them came after receiving court summons, most did not still show up.” Pastor Ogunfowokan said.

When asked what they are doing about unoccupied flats, pastor Ogunfowokan replied that the only time they put an unoccupied flat into consideration is when it has been vacant for more than four months. Any duration less than that will be billed. He therefore advised residents who will be traveling for more than four months to inform the firm in form of writing. This will help them keep track of unoccupied apartments in the estate.

The 200 people arraigned are the first of series of defaulters that will be arraigned. Another set will soon be arraigned before the court. Those owing are advised to pay up their debt to avoid embarrassment.

LAWMA recently served a notice of default to the estate authorities for noncompliance to solid waste management best practices and indiscriminate dumping of refuse within the estate. They were given seven days to comply or those concerned will be liable for noncompliance, punishable under the Environmental management and protection law of 2017.

Meanwhile, the court headed by magistrate T. O. Fashina, jailed has for three months (3-months), a 32 year old environmental offender, Abubakar Sanni, who poses under the guise of cart pushing to vandalise and steal iron rods at Karim Kotun area of Victoria Island, Lagos.