Meet 26 illegal oil dealers arraigned in lagos

Here is a possible news article:

26 Illegal Oil Dealers Arraigned in Lagos

Twenty-six individuals have been arraigned before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for allegedly engaging in illegal oil dealing.

The defendants, who were arraigned on Monday, were accused of operating illegal oil refining sites in various parts of the state, including Ijegun, Ejigbo, and Ojo.

The prosecution, led by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), told the court that the defendants were arrested by the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) in a sting operation.

The defendants, who were arraigned on a 26-count charge, were accused of conspiracy, illegal oil refining, and environmental pollution.

The charge sheet read in part: "That you, [names of defendants], and others now at large, on or about the 15th day of January, 2023, at Ijegun, Lagos State, did conspire together to commit a felony, to wit: illegal oil refining, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015."

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

The trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, adjourned the case to March 15, 2023, for further hearing.

The Lagos State Government has been cracking down on illegal oil dealers in recent months, with several arrests and convictions recorded.

The state government has also launched a campaign to promote the use of alternative energy sources and reduce the state's reliance on fossil fuels.

The case is being monitored by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).