The Oyo State Government has arraigned the owner of Lanre Pet Store and 4 others before a Magistrate Court in Ibadan for alleged violations of the Oyo State Private Veterinary Premises and Veterinary Establishment (Regulation) Law, 2017.
The defendants include Emcare Pharmacy, Pro-Pet Store, Anike Pet Store, Mummy Ps Pet Store, and Mr. Adeleye Abayomi, who operates under Lanre Pet Store within the Ibadan metropolis.
The accused persons were arraigned on a 5-count charges bordering on disobedience to lawful order issued by a constituted authority under Section 203 of the Criminal Code Law; obstruction of public officers in the discharge of their duties under Section 197 of the Criminal Code Law.
Obstruction of the Committee in the performance of its statutory duties under Section 16(2) of the Private Veterinary Premises and Veterinary Establishment (Regulation) Law, 2017; conduct likely to cause breach of peace under Section 249(1)(d) and punishable under Section 249(3) of the Criminal Code Law; as well as alleged damage to government seal placed on the premises in the course of enforcement activities.
The prosecution informed the court that the offences were committed within the Ibadan metropolis during an enforcement exercise carried out by the state’s Veterinary Premises Registration and Regulation Committee.
The Committee had earlier sealed the affected premises for alleged non-compliance with registration and regulatory requirements, but the seals were reportedly tampered with, leading to further legal action.
The case has been adjourned till March 26, 2026, for further hearing.
It would be recalled that in 2025, committee was set up by the Oyo State Government to enforce the Private Veterinary Premises and Veterinary Establishment (Regulation) Law embarked on a statewide sensitisation campaign.
The exercise was aimed at educating members of the public, particularly owners and operators of private veterinary premises, on the need to register their facilities with the government for proper documentation, monitoring, and quality control.
The sensitisation programme also emphasized compliance with minimum operational standards, employment of qualified veterinary personnel, proper drug handling and storage, and adherence to biosecurity measures to prevent the outbreak and spread of zoonotic and other infectious diseases.
Speaking on the enforcement exercise, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Veterinary Services, Dr. Olakunle Olaoye, stated that the law was enacted in 2017 to regulate the activities of private veterinary practitioners and establishments across the state and to safeguard public health.
He noted that unregistered and unregulated veterinary premises pose significant risks, including improper treatment of animals, circulation of substandard or counterfeit veterinary drugs, and increased vulnerability to disease outbreaks that could affect both animals and humans.
The Commissioner reiterated that the present administration under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde remains committed to strengthening regulatory enforcement and ensuring that all professional practices within the state operate within the ambit of the law, stressed that the government will not condone any act capable of undermining its efforts to maintain a safe environment and protect residents from preventable health hazards.
He therefore urged all owners and operators of private veterinary premises and veterinary establishments who are yet to comply to immediately register with the Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, warning that continued non-compliance would attract appropriate legal sanctions in line with the extant laws of the state.
