The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has dragged one, Uzuokwu Solomon before an Ogba Magistrate Court, following the spate of Prank Calls on Fire and related emergency.
Uzuokwu was arraigned before the Court on Wednesday, April 19th on charges bordering on malicious false calls and misleading of emergency responders.
The culprit had allegedly placed a call on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 17:35 hours to Harmony Estate, Langbasa, Ajah, Lagos and reported a Fire emergency within the estate, leading to the dispatch of the Lekki Phase II fire Service Station.
On arrival of the Firefighters at the estate, every efforts to trace the acclaimed Fire outbreak proved abortive.
However, at the Court sitting, Presiding Judge, Magistrate Bambo Oduoke remanded the culprit and adjourned the case till Thursday, April 27, 2023.
This followed the State’s Prosecutor, A. A. Asiwaju’s presentation of the culprit for plea which he pleaded guilty to.
Addressing newsmen after the Court session, the Director Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, expressed pleasure in the prosecution of the culprit and reiterated the stand of the State Government on malicious false calls which is punishable under the Lagos State Laws.
She believed the arraignment will serve as a deterrent to other misguided citizens who are in the habit of making false calls and misleading emergency responders.
She also pleaded with the residents of the State concerning the attacks on Firefighters at the scene of emergency. She asked for them to give way whenever Firefighters are on the way to an emergency as well as support them while at emergency scenes and desist from making prank calls.
On his part, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, who was also present at the Court, expressed delight in the arraignment of the culprit.
He stated that the State Government frowns at malicious false calls which endanger the lives of Firefighters, reduce the lifespan and effectiveness of Firefighting equipment and also the wastage of the State’s resources.
He noted that the arraignment will serve as warning to others that the State Government is out to enforce the Law and will take all false call cases to a conclusive end.