LASTMA nab pretend visitors officer extorting cash from motorists in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos State Visitors Administration Authority (LASTMA) over the weekend nabbed one other serial pretend visitors officer round Ikoyi space of the state. 

The Normal Supervisor of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, in a press release launched on Sunday, March 26, 2023, by the Director, Public Affairs Division, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, mentioned that the suspect was arrested at Olu Holloway Highway by Alfred Rewane space of Ikoyi by the company\’s Monitoring/Surveillance crew led by Mr. Ashafa Moyosore (Zonal Head).

Mr. Oreagba confirmed additional that the Company carried out a particular monitoring/Surveillance operations in regards to the suspect and received him arrested in response to complaints from motoring public (Obinna Kingsley & Adewusi Adebola) by way of Lastma hotlines/social media handles.

Investigation performed revealed that the arrested suspect has been extorting big sums of cash from motorists for varied visitors offences starting from seat-belt, obstructions, unlawful overtaking and One-way at completely different areas round Lagos Island.

“It\’s disheartening getting complaints from street customers significantly motorists on actions of those unscrupulous parts impersonating and extorting cash from them,” he mentioned. 

Mr. Oreagba urged most people to be cautious of those pretend visitors officers stating that the Company operates a cashless coverage as any violators apprehended are charged to Court docket with a \’Referral Discover\’ issued to them.

“Let me warn motoring public to desistfrom inducing visitors officers in any type (cash) as each the giver and taker are liable earlier than the legislation,\” he mentioned. 

The Normal Supervisor nonetheless warned different impersonators disguising as Lastma personnel to instantly desist from such unlawful acts as extra surveillance personnel have been strategically deployed to hunt for them.

The arrested suspect, Mr. Omotutu Bamidele, 55, confessed to having been impersonating with a reflective jacket as a Lastma officer and extorting cash from motorists significantly non-public automotive homeowners/ drivers at intellectual areas throughout the State.

Mr. Bamidele who confirmed to be residing together with his junior brother inside in one of many Military Barracks in Lagos confessed additional to have operated round Ikoyi, Obalende, Apongbon Bridge, Iporin, Olowu areas apprehending each industrial and personal vehicles for varied visitors infractions together with driving in opposition to visitors (one-way).

The suspect who hailed from \’Atijere City\’ in Ondo State mentioned he and his colleagues are making a median of N35,000 from extortions each day.

“Any motorists, significantly non-public automotive homeowners I catchdropping somebody at any undesignated bus cease paid between N15,000 to N20,000 whereas these caught for driving in opposition to visitors (One-way) paid a minimal of N35,000,” the suspect mentioned.

One Mr. Adewusi Adebola (a complainant) confirmed that the suspect (Omotutu Bamidele) apprehended him for \’obstruction\’ on the sixth of March, 2023 round Spac bus cease by Awolowo Highway, Ikoyi and picked up N20,000 from him for dropping his colleagues.

Whereas Obinna Kingsley grievance by way of one of many Lastma social media handles (Twitter) that he was pressured to transferred N50,000 to the arrested suspect (Omotutu Bamidele) for \’Obstruction\’ on Awolowo Highway by Obalende Bridge in direction of Tafawa Balewa Sq. (T.B.S).

“Actually talking I had written sequence of destructive tales about actions of Lastma on social media significantly on \’Twitter\’ for the reason that ugly incidents occurred till I used to be referred to as by Lastma Administration that the person I reported that extorted cash from me was a pretend visitors Officer and that he has been arrested,” mentioned Mr. Adewusi Adebola, proprietor of a Toyota Corolla (LSR 299 AY). 

In the meantime, the Director, Authorized Division (Lastma) Barr. Akerele Kehinde disclosed that the arrested suspect could be charged to courtroom with all gadgets recovered from him (pretend identification card & a reflective jacket) on Monday, twenty seventh of March, 2023) in accordance with the Felony Code Regulation of Lagos State.