The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested a suspected serial fake traffic officer impersonating the agency.

The suspect, Omotutu Bamidele, 55, was nabbed around the Ikoyi area of the state.

According to LASTMA, in a statement on Sunday, the suspect, who hailed from ‘Atijere Town’ in Ondo State, confessed that he and his colleagues still at large were making an average of N35,000 from extortion acts on daily basis.

He confessed to have been impersonating the agency with a reflective jacket and extorting money from motorists particularly private car owners/drivers in some areas across the state.

According to LASTMA, the suspect said, “Any motorist particularly private car owners I 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.”

The director, Public Affairs Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, quoted the General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, to have confirmed that the suspect was nabbed at Olu Holloway Road by Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by men of the agency’s Monitoring/Surveillance team, led by Mr. Ashafa Moyosore (Zonal Head).

Oreagba said the agency carried out special monitoring/Surveillance operations about the suspect and got him arrested in response to complaints from the motoring public (Obinna Kingsley and Adewusi Adebola) via LASTMA hotlines/social media handles.

He said, “Investigation conducted revealed that the arrested suspect has been extorting huge sum 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.”

LASTMA boss, therefore, urged the general public to be wary of those 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 the motoring public to desist from inducing traffic officers in any form as both the giver and taker are liable before the law,” Oregaba said. (The PUNCH)

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