Nigeria Newspapers Online

LASTMA nabs another fake traffic officer in Ikoyi

Must Read

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) at the weekend nabbed another serial fake traffic officer around Ikoyi area of Lagos.

Director, Public Affairs Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq quoted the General Manager Bolaji Oreagba as confirming that the suspect was nabbed at Olu Holloway Road by Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by a LASTMA Monitoring/Surveillance team led by Mr. Ashafa Moyosore (Zonal Head).

Oreagba said the Agency carried out a special monitoring/Surveillance operations about the suspect and got him arrested in response to complaints from motoring public, through LASTMA hotlines/social media handles.

Investigation conducted revealed that the arrested suspect had been extorting huge sums of money from motorists for various traffic offences ranging from seat-belt, obstructions, illegal over-taking and One-way drive at different locations around Lagos Island.

“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users, particularly motorists on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from them,” he lamented.

,Oreagba urged the general public to be wary of these fake traffic officers, stating that the Agency operates a cashless policy, as any violators apprehended were charged to Court with a ‘Referral Notice’ issued to them.

“Let me warn motoring public to desists from inducing traffic officers in any form (money) as both the giver and taker are liable before the law,” he said.

The General Manager, however, warned other impersonators disguising as LASTMA personnel to immediately desist from such illegal acts as more surveillance personnel had been strategically deployed to hunt for them.

The arrested suspect, Omotutu Bamidele, 55, confessed to have been impersonating with a reflective jacket as a LASTMA officer and extorting money from motorists, particularly private car owners/ drivers at highbrow areas across the State.

Bamidele, who said he is living with his junior brother inside in one of the Army Barracks in Lagos confessed further to have operated around Ikoyi, Obalende, Apongbon Bridge, Iporin and Olowu areas apprehending both commercial and private cars for various traffic infractions, including driving against traffic (one-way).

The suspect, who hails from ‘Atijere Town’ in Ondo State said he and his colleagues were making an average of N35,000 from extortions on daily basis.

“Any motorists, particularly private car owners I caught dropping someone at any undesignated bus stop paid between N15,000 to N20,000 while those caught for driving against traffic paid a minimum of N35,000,” he said.

One Adewusi Adebola, a complainant, said the suspect Bamidele apprehended him for ‘obstruction’ on the 6th of March, 2023 around Spac bus stop by Awolowo Road, Ikoyi and collected N20,000 from him for dropping his colleagues.

While Obinna Kingsley complained via one of the LASTMA  social media handles (Twitter) that he was forced to transferred N50,000 to Bamidele for ‘obstruction’ on Awolowo Road by Obalende Bridge towards Tafawa Balewa Square (T.B.S).

According to Adewusi Adebola, owner of a Toyota Corolla, “Honestly speaking I had written series of negative stories about activities of LASTMA on social media, particularly on ‘Twitter’ since the ugly incident happened until I was called by LASTMA management that the man I reported extorted money from me was a fake traffic officer and that he has been arrested.”

Meanwhile, the Director, Legal Department, LASTMA, Akerele Kehinde disclosed that the arrested suspect would be charged to court with all items recovered from him on Monday, 27th of March, 2023 in accordance with the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.

Nigeria Newspapers Telelgram
Nigerian Gospel Radio
Nigerian Gospel Radio

You may 've missed...

Latest Updates

See More Stories Like This