On December 14, 2022, a LASTMA agent caught Oluchkwu, a 27-year-old guy, in the act of committing a crime in the Lekki neighbourhood of Lagos.
After being charged with two charges of "Conduct likely to create a breach of peace and Impersonation," the defendant was brought before the court by LASTMA, and he was found guilty on both counts.
According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Oluchkwu pled "Guilty" to the two-count accusation, and Magistrate Adesanya Ademola sentenced him to a four-month jail term without the option of a fine.
According to Magistrate Adesanya, the conviction called for a mandatory four-month jail term without the option of a fine.
The prosecutor, Barrister Agbaje Oladotun, contended that the offences (Breach of Peace and Impersonation) for which the defendant was found guilty breached Sections 168 (D) and 78 of the Lagos State Criminal Code (2015).
The judgement was applauded by Bolaji Oreagba, General Manager of LASTMA, who claimed it would deter those who continue to extort money from the public using fictitious claims.
Oreagba says, “Our surveillance and intelligence unit, which has now been fully restructured, would continue to hunt for other bad elements disturbing the peace of the society on the roads.”
Drivers, especially those who operate commercial buses, were encouraged to rigorously comply with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 by the state’s attorney general.
In case you forgot, Oreagba confirmed that a LASTMA patrol team arrested the suspect while monitoring and controlling traffic in the Lekki axis.
The agency’s preliminary investigation shows that the detained individual is a member of a criminal gang that has been extorting large sums of money from innocent drivers who have been pulled over for minor traffic violations such as not wearing a seatbelt, blocking traffic, illegally passing another vehicle, and going the wrong way on a one-way street across the state.
Mr Oreagba stated, “the suspect was apprehended after our patrol team spotted him fully kitted with a Lastma uniform on black jeans collecting money from different commercial bus drivers who were illegally dropping and picking up passengers under the Lekki bridge.”
It is disappointing that “some unscrupulous elements” have been posing as LASTMA personnel to extort money from unsuspecting drivers.
Oreagba warned drivers to be aware of phoney police officers who demand a monetary fine, saying that the agency does not accept cash payments and instead sends violators to court with a “Referral Notice.”
He cautioned the impersonators that more surveillance officers had been sent to key places to seek individuals extorting innocent motorists under the pretence of the agency.
Oluchkwu, originally from ‘Ukpu’ in Anambra State, admitted that he made about N40,000 per day operating as an illegal traffic official.
He said, “Any motorists I caught driving against traffic (One-way) paid a minimum of N50,000 while other traffic violators were charged with different fines.”
However, the convicted felon, who had no known whereabouts, pleaded with the government for leniency.