The  Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has stated that the  fake traffic officer, arrested by its men, around Ikoyi area of Lagos, over the weekend, would be charged to court today, Monday.

 

The  agency’s Director, Legal Department, Barr. Akerele Kehinde, stated that the arrested suspect would be charged to court with all items recovered from him (fake identity card & a reflective jacket), in accordance with the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.

 

The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, had, in a statement issued by its Director, Public Affairs Department,  Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed 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 stated further that the agency carried out a special monitoring/Surveillance operations  on the activities of the suspect, and got him arrested in response to complaints from motoring public (Obinna Kingsley & Adewusi Adebola) via 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 at different locations around the Lagos Island.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The agency’s General Manager also warned other individuals, disguising as LASTMA personnel, to immediately desist from such illegal acts as more surveillance personnel, he added, had been strategically deployed to hunt for them.

 

The arrested suspect Mr. Omotutu Bamidele (55yrs) 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.

 

The suspect, who confirmed to be living with his junior brother inside  one of the army barracks in Lagos, also confessed he had  operated around Ikoyi, Obalende, Apongbon Bridge, Iponri and  Olowu areas, apprehending both commercial and private cars for various traffic infractions including driving against traffic (one-way).

 

The suspect who hailed from ‘Atijere Town’ in Ondo State said he and his colleagues  were making an average of N35,000 from extortions on daily basis, before the long hand of the law eventually caught up with him.

 

“Any motorists particularly private car owners, caught dropping someone at any undesignated bus stop, paid between N15,000 to N20,000, while those caught for driving against traffic (One-way) paid a minimum of N35,000”

 

Confirming the nefarious activities of the suspect and his gang, one Mr. Adewusi Adebola (a complainant) confirmed that the suspect (Omotutu 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.

 

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

 

 

“Honestly speaking I had written series of negative stories about activities of LASTMA on social media particularly on ‘Twitter’ since the ugly incidents happened,   until I was called by LASTMA Management that the man I said, extorted money from me was a fake traffic Officer and that he has been arrested,” stated Adebola, owner of a Toyota Corolla (LSR 299 AY).