The Deputy General Manager of the Umuahia zone of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Catechist Ambrose Jonah, has responded to reports alleging the desecration of a government mobile court in Umuahia. Jonah clarified that ASEPA officials did not sack any mobile court but rather were involved in a misunderstanding with officials from the Ministry of Environment.
According to Jonah’s statement, the incident occurred during the monthly environmental cleanup exercise for May. He explained that ASEPA officials, who were at the Ministry of Environment, were asked to leave the premises following a misunderstanding between ASEPA and Ministry officials. This misunderstanding reportedly stemmed from an agreement that all sanitation defaulters arrested by ASEPA would be prosecuted at the mobile court in the Ministry of Environment. However, this agreement was allegedly not honored by the Ministry.
Jonah emphasized that while he directed ASEPA officials to leave the Ministry premises with the hired buses, there was no invasion of the court, and no offenders were freed by ASEPA.
Further supporting Jonah’s statement, Nwagbara Macaulay, a top official of ASEPA in the Umuahia zone, stated that no sanitation offenders were released from court by ASEPA. Macaulay clarified that ASEPA lacks the authority to intervene in court proceedings and suggested that if offenders were allowed to leave with ASEPA staff, it was the Ministry’s decision.
In response to the incident, the Abia State Government urged citizens to respect the monthly sanitation exercise, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to public health. Professor Ijeoma Iheukwumere, the Special Assistant on Environment to Governor Alex Otti, stressed the importance of citizens’ participation in the cleanup exercise. Despite labeling the month’s exercise as successful, she expressed concern over the observation of some youths playing football instead of participating in the cleanup, highlighting the need for continued public awareness and participation in sanitation efforts.