Fake LASTMA Officer Bags 2-year Jail Term

…Agency warns other impersonators to turn a new leaf or go to jail

By Rasaq Adebayo

The Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi on Monday, 27th of March, 2023 sentenced a fake LASTMA officer, Omotutu Bamidele, to a 2- year jail term for impersonating and extorting money from motorists across Lagos.

The convicted fake LASTMA officer was arraigned by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on a 2-count charges of “Did impersonate as a public officer by representing as staff of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (S.78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015)” and “Did obtain by fraudulent trick (Sec. 323 of the Criminal Law, Lagos State)” before the court.

In a press statement released by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq said the preceeding Magistrate, Kehinde Ogundare, sentenced Bamidele to a 2-year jail term without any option of fine after he pleaded guilty to the charges levied against him.

Magistrate Ogundare emphasised that the convict should serve the jail term without any option of fine due to the gravity of the offences committed.

The court Prosecutor, Barr. Olufemi Adekunle, stated that both offences levied against the convict contravened Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015).

Reacting to the judgement, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, said the judgement was a welcome development as it would serve as deterrent to others who are still extorting money from innocent members of public under false pretence.

“Our Monitoring and Surveillance Unit which has now been fully restructured would continue to hunt for other bad elements disturbing the peace of the society,” he said.

The General Manager, however, urged motorists particularly commercial bus operators to adhere strictly to the dictates of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 and avoid attacking Officers of the Agency.