Following the spate of prank calls on fire and related emergency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service on Wednesday arraigned one Uzuokwu Solomon at the Ogba Magistrate Court for raising a false alarm of fire in Harmony Estate, Langbasa, Ajah.
Magistrate Bambo Oduoke ordered Uzuokwu to be remanded in custody and adjourned to April 27, 2023. This follows the State Prosecutor, A. A. Asiwaju’s presentation of the defendant for plea.
After the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty and confessed to the commission of the crime.
Addressing Journalists after the Court session, the Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye expressed her happiness 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 believes that 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 scene as well as support them while at emergency scenes and desist from making prank calls.
On the part of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, who was also present at the Court, he likewise expressed his delight on the arraignment of the culprit stating 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 bring about the wastage of the State’s resources.
He believes that the arraignment will serve as warning for others that the State Government is out to enforce the Law and will take all false call cases to a conclusive end.
Recall Uzuokwu had reportedly 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 Fire crew at the estate, every efforts to trace the acclaimed Fire outbreak proved abortive.
