A Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ogba has convicted a young man, Uzuokwu Solomon, of making a prank fire call to the fire service in April.
18-year-old Solomon pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of breaching of the public peace and making a prank fire emergency call.
Magistrate Bambo Odueke committed him to one-month imprisonment with an option of a fine, and a month of community service, which includes a campaign against false calls within the jurisdiction of the State.
The magistrate handed down the minimum sentence after the defendant showed remorse and promptly pleaded guilty to breaching the peace and making a hoax fire emergency call.
Solomon placed the misleading call on 14 April, reporting a false fire emergency in an estate in Ajah.
He first appeared in court on 19 April.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, hopes the conviction would serve as a deterrent to other citizens who make false calls and mislead emergency responders.
