Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A 27-year-old man, David Oluchukwu, has been arrested in the Lekki area of Lagos for allegedly impersonating as an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to extort money from unsuspecting motorists.
Oluchukwu, who falsely identified himself as Badejo Hakeem, was apprehended on Wednesday by LASTMA team on routine patrol.
Director, Public Affairs Department of the agency, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, in a statement on Thursday, said preliminary investigations by the revealed that the suspect belonged to a criminal gang extorting money from motorists for various traffic offences.
The statement quoted LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, as saying that the suspect was caught in the act.
“The suspect was apprehended after our patrol team sighted him kitted in a LASTMA uniform on black jeans 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,” the statement read.
Oreagba urged motorists to be wary of fake officers demanding money from them, stating that the agency operates a cashless policy whereby any violators apprehended were with a “Referral Notice.”
He warned impersonators to desist from such illegal act, adding that more surveillance personnel had been deployed in strategic locations.
According to the statement, the suspect confessed to extorting money from motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers and making an average of N40,000 every day.
“Any motorists I caught driving against traffic (one-way) paid a minimum of N50,000 while other traffic violators were charged different fines,” Oluchukwu was quoted to have said.
The suspect, with no fixed address however appealed to the government to temper justice with mercy.
Meanwhile, the Director, Legal Department of LASTMA, Barr. Akerele Kehinde, disclosed that the suspect would be charged to court on Thursday, December 15, in accordance with the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.
