…launches manhunt for others in the act
ECHONEWS
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on said they have arrested a fake LASTMA traffic officer around the Lekki area of Lagos.
In a statement released by the Director, Public Affairs Department of LASTMA, Mr. Taofiq Adebayo, the General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba confirmed that the suspect was nabbed by a LASTMA patrol team while on duty monitoring and controlling traffic around the Lekki axis.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Agency revealed that the arrested suspect belonged to a criminal gang which has been extorting huge sum of money from innocent motorists apprehended for various traffic offences ranging from seat-belt, obstructions, illegal over-taking and One-way at different locations across the State.
According to Oreagba, “the suspect was apprehended after our patrol team sighted him fully kitted with a LASTMA uniform on a black jean collecting money from different commercial bus drivers who were illegally dropping and picking passengers under the Lekki bridge.
“It is disheartening for some unscrupulous elements impersonating as LASTMA officials and extorting money from innocent motorists thereby denting the good image of the Agency before the public.”
Oreagba urged motorists to be wary of fake officers demanding money from them, stating that the Agency operates a cashless policy as violators apprehended are charged to court with a ‘Referral Notice’.
He, therefore, warned those impersonators to desist from such illegal acts, saying more surveillance personnel have been deployed to strategic locations to hunt for those extorting innocent motorists under the pretext of the Agency.
The suspect, Mr. David Oluchkwu (27 years), confessed to having been impersonating as a LASTMA official and extorting money from different motorists particularly commercial bus drivers apprehended for violating traffic laws across the State.
Oluchkwu, who hailed from Ukpu in Anambra State, confessed further to be making an average of N40,000 everyday from the illegal traffic business.
“Any motorists I caught driving against traffic (One-way) paid a minimum of N50,000 while other traffic violators were charged with different fines.”
The suspect with no any fixed address however appealed to the government to temper justice with mercy.
Meanwhile, the Director, Legal Department (LASTMA), Barr. Akerele Kehinde, said the suspect would be charged to court on Thursday in accordance with the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.
