The Lagos State Government has launched a formal investigation into an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Corps, after a viral video allegedly showed him collecting a ₦20,000 cash bribe from a suspected environmental offender inside an enforcement vehicle.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab condemned the alleged conduct, describing it as a clear violation of the agency’s ethics, rules and core values. He announced that the officer has been formally issued a query and that a Personnel Management Board will be constituted to investigate the incident in line with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
According to the query letter, the officer is accused of accepting ₦20,000 from an offender allegedly to avoid prosecution. The letter describes the alleged act as corruption and extortion and directs the officer to submit a written explanation within the stipulated period before disciplinary action is considered.
Wahab reiterated that the Lagos State Government maintains a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, warning that any officer found guilty of misconduct would face the appropriate disciplinary sanctions. He also reminded members of the public that offering a bribe is just as unlawful as receiving one, urging Lagosians to comply with environmental laws rather than attempting to compromise enforcement officials.
The incident has reignited public debate over accountability within enforcement agencies, with many Nigerians calling for transparent investigations and tougher penalties for corrupt public officers. Authorities say the disciplinary process will determine the officer’s culpability after a full review of the evidence.
