The magistrate’s court in Bolade, Oshodi, has remanded eight employees of the Yakoyo Abula Restaurants in prison custody for attempted murder of officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps.

Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Wahab said the officials were in the area on Wednesday to enforce environmental standards on the indiscriminate discharge of untreated wastewater, fats, and oil into the environment, when hoodlums from the restaurant allegedly attacked and injured four of the officers.

Mr Wahab said, “Following the arrest of 8 staff of Yakoyo Abula Joint in Sinari Adaranijo Street in Victoria Island who attacked the enforcement officers of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) while on official duty with LSWMO, were arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi for attempted murder.”

The suspects are 30-year-old Ibiwunmi Oladunjoye. 45-year-old Sikiru Oyelami, 29-year-old Aja Daniel, 31-year-old Sanusi Abayomi, 22-year-old Timothy Emmanuel, 24-year-old Ajoke Adegoke, 28-year-old Sulaimon Akinbola, and 30-year-old Ridwan Adeshina.

Mr Wahab said the defendants all pleaded not guilty, prompting their remand in prison custody until January 28, 2026, awaiting advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The restaurant’s workers not only broke the government’s seal but also unleashed the armed thugs on the officials who were lawfully carrying out their duties, which, according to him, crossed every line.

The restaurant was located at 134, Sinari Daranijo Street, Victoria Island, and had previously been sealed for environmental pollution.

“In a follow up joint enforcement operation carried out today 10th December, 2025 by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) also known as KAI, to enforce environmental standards on the indiscriminate discharge of untreated wastewater, fats and oil into the environment, hoodlums from the Yakoyo Abula Restaurants Victoria Island at 134, Sinari Daranijo Street Victoria Island, attacked KAI Officers and injured four (4) in the course of the operation.

“The Yakoyo restaurant not only broke the government’s seal, but they went further to unleash armed thugs on officials who were lawfully carrying out their duties. This crosses every line,” said Mr Wahab in a statement on Wednesday.