LASTMA dismisses 20 officials, five arrested for extortion

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested five of its traffic officials for extorting motorists last week at various parts of the state. The traffic officials are Bamidele Sheu, a level seven traffic officer aged 48 and resident of 68, Oke Popo Street, Lagos Island; Ope Adisa, aged 32 and level 5 traffic […]

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested five of its traffic officials for extorting motorists last week at various parts of the state.

The traffic officials are Bamidele Sheu, a level seven traffic officer aged 48 and resident of 68, Oke Popo Street, Lagos Island; Ope Adisa, aged 32 and level 5 traffic officer of 8, Freeman Street, Lagos Island and Babatunde Aluko 37 years old traffic officer level 4 of 15, Oriwu street, Ikorodu.

According to a statement by the Public Affairs Officer of LASTMA, Mahmud Hassan, no fewer than 20 officials of the agency have been dismissed this year for various act of misconduct that were considered to be inimical to the service of the state and agency.

He added that dozens of other officials  have received various letters of warning.

Besides some officials are waiting their turn to appear before Personal Management Board (discipline) for various unwholesome act and behaviour.

The three officials were arrested following a complaint to the agency by one Akinmolayan Babatunde, a clearing agent for illegal apprehension of his container truck with number AA 553 NGW at Marina area of the Lagos Island.

They were said to have subsequently demanded for N80,000 bribe before the vehicle could be released.

According to Akinmolayan, he was accompanying the container truck on Monday morning to deliver goods at Walter Carrington Street at Victoria Island, when the truck was forced to stop at Marina close to the State House by the three LASTMA officials in uniform working with some other men in mufti for driving the vehicle at unauthorised hours.

Akinmolayan said all pleas to allow the truck to go in order to meet up with delivery time fell on deaf ears as the traffic officials and these men in mufti engaged him in fisticuffs, and the vehicle was eventually taken to Olowu removal yard of the agency on the Island, where they demanded for the sum of N80,000 before its release.

It took the intervention of the zonal head and after parting with N7, 000 to some men in mufti that the vehicle was eventually released and allowed to go, Hassan added.

In the same vein, the duo of Jimo Olaosebikan and Emmanuel Padonu were arrested during the week by surveillance unit and provost officials of the agency at Okokomaiko and Mile 12 areas of the state respectively.

Olaosebikan was arrested by men of LASTMA surveillance team unit at Okokomaiko along Lagos- Badagry expressway for illegally collecting a sum of N20,000 from a female motorist whom he alleged to have made an illegal u-turn at Okokomaiko.

Padonu, on his part, was picked up by provost officials for using men in mufti to collect money from commercial drivers at Mile 12 area of Kosofe Local Government of Lagos State on Wednesday morning.

The arrest was as a result of tip off from members of the public who informed the agency that some traffic officials were conniving with men in mufti to arrest and collect money from commercial drivers in the area.

Speaking on the arrested officials, General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olawale Musa expressed dismay at the activities of unscrupulous elements within the agency and assured that with the assistance of members of the public they will be eased off from the agency to protect the good name of the hard working officers who work assiduously to ensure free flow of traffic in the state.

Musa expressed his appreciation to members of the public for alerting the agency to the unscrupulous activities of these officials.

He also advised motorists to always report any LASTMA official found wanting on duty.