Court imprisons fake LASTMA officer

David Oluchkwu was given a four-month prison sentence by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offenses (Mobile) Court in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos for impersonating a LASTMA inspector and extorting money from unwary drivers, primarily commercial bus drivers in the state.

On December 14, 2022, LASTMA agents caught Oluchkwu, a 27-year-old man, in the act when they were in the Lekki neighborhood of Lagos.

The suspect was then charged by LASTMA with “Conduct likely to cause breach of peace and Impersonation” on two counts before the court where he was found guilty.

Oluchkwu, who hailed from ‘Ukpu’ in Anambra State, confessed further to be making an average of N40,000 daily from the illegal traffic business.

“Any motorists I caught driving against traffic (One-way) paid a minimum of N50,000 while other traffic violators were charged with different fines,” he stated.

Oluchkwu pleaded “Guilty” to the two-count accusation brought against him, and the Magistrate Adesanya Ademola sentenced him to a 4-month jail term without the option of a fine, according to the Director of the LASTMA Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq.

Due to the seriousness of the crimes committed, Magistrate Adesanya emphasized that the prison sentence should be four months without the option of a fine.

Both of the charges brought against the convict—Breach of Peace and Impersonation—were in violation of Sections 168 (D) and 78 of the Lagos State Criminal Law (2015), according to the prosecutor, Barrister Agbaje Oladotun.

Bolaji Oreagba, the general manager of LASTMA, responded to the verdict by calling it a positive development and said that it will serve as a deterrent to others who continue to defraud innocent members of the public out of their money.

According to Oreagba “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.”

However, he urged drivers, especially commercial bus operators, to rigorously abide by the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 to avoid being pulled over and facing further legal action.

Remember that Oreagba stated that the suspect was apprehended by a Lastma patrol squad while they were in charge of observing and regulating traffic near the Lekki axis.

The Agency’s preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested suspect was a member of a criminal gang that had been extorting large sums of money from innocent drivers who had been stopped for a variety of traffic violations across the state, including failure to wear a seatbelt, obstructions, illegal overtaking, and driving the wrong way.

According to Mr. Oreagba “the suspect was apprehended after our patrol team sighted him fully kitted with a Lastma uniform on a black jean collecting money from different commercial bus drivers who were illegally dropping and picking passengers under the Lekki bridge”

“It is disheartening for some unscrupulous elements impersonating as LASTMA officials and extorting money from innocent motorists thereby denting the good image of the Agency before the public.”

Oreagba advised drivers to be aware of phony officials who approached them and demanded money, claiming that the agency had a cashless policy and that anyone caught breaking the law would be issued a “Referral Notice” and sent to court.

However, he issued a warning to such impersonators not to carry out such unlawful activities as more surveillance workers have been stationed in key areas to look for those who extort innocent motorists while posing as representatives of the agency.

The convict with no any fixed address however, appealed to the government to temper justice with mercy.