Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) at the weekend apprehended a serial fake traffic officer, Mr. Omotutu Bamidele, aged 55, for impersonation and extortion of motorists.
Bamidele was nabbed around Ikoyi area.
The arrest, according to the Agency’s Director, Public Affairs Department, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, was sequel to several complaints from members on how they were being extorted by those thought to be LASTMA officials.
In the PRO’s statement, the Agency’s General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, disclosed that the suspect was nabbed at Olu Holloway Road, Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by the LASTMA Monitoring/Surveillance team led by the Zonal Head, Mr. Ashafa Moyosore.
Mr. Oreagba said further that the Agency carried out a special monitoring/surveillance operation about the suspect when it got a hint on his whereabouts, leading to his arrest.
Two of the complaints reportedly came from one Obinna Kingsley and Adewusi Adebola through the Agency’s hotlines and social media handles.
“Investigation conducted revealed that the arrested suspect had been extorting huge sum of money from motorists for various traffic offences ranging from non-usage of seat belt, obstruction, illegal overtaking and driving against traffic (one-way) at different locations around the Lagos Island,” Oreagba said.
He stated that it was disheartening getting complaints from road users, particularly motorists, on the activities of the impersonators who were extorting money from them.
Mr.Oreagba urged the general public to be wary of the fake traffic officers, stating that the Agency operates a cashless policy, adding that violators apprehended are charged to court with a ‘Referral Notice’ issued to them.
“Let me warn the motoring public to desist from inducing traffic officers in any form by giving them money, as both the giver and taker are liable before the law,” Oreagba said.
The General Manager also warned other impersonators disguising as LASTMA personnel to desist from such illegal acts, as more surveillance personnel had been strategically deployed to hunt for them.
On interrogation, Thenewsbearer gathered that the suspect confessed to have engaged in impersonation, with the use of a reflective jacket depicting him as a LASTMA official and extorting money from motorists, particularly private car drivers at highbrow areas across the state.
Mr. Bamidele, who said that he was living with his younger brother in one of the Army Barracks in Lagos, confessed further to have operated around Ikoyi, Obalende, Apongbon Bridge, Iporin and Olowu areas where he used to stop both commercial and private cars for various traffic infractions, including driving against traffic.
The suspect, who claimed to have hailed from Atijere Town in Ondo State, said he and his colleagues had been making an average of N35,000 from extortion on a daily basis.
“Any motorist, particularly private car owners, whom I caught dropping someone at any undesignated bus stop paid between N15,000 to N20,000, while those caught for driving against traffic paid a minimum of N35,000,” the suspect disclosed.
One of the complainants, Mr. Adewusi confirmed that the suspect apprehended him for ‘obstruction’ on March 6, around Spac Bus Stop, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, and collected N20,000 from him because his colleagues disembarked from his car.
The second complainant, Kingsley, reportedly contacted one of LASTMA’s social media handles, Twitter, and said that he was forced to transfer N50,000 to the suspect for ‘obstruction’ on Awolowo Road by Obalende Bridge towards Tafawa Balewa Square.
The Director, Legal Department at LASTMA, Barrister Akerele Kehinde said that the suspect would be charged to court on Monday, March 27 in accordance with the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.
