An alleged chronic imposter of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has been detained.
Omotutu Bamidele, a 55-year-old suspect, was taken into custody near the state’s Ikoyi district.
The suspect, who is from “Atijere Town” in Ondo State, admitted to LASTMA in a statement on Sunday that he and his accomplices who are still at large were earning an average of N35,000 per day through extortion acts.
He admitted to posing as the organization while wearing a reflective jacket and extorting money from cars, especially private automobile owners/drivers, in several parts of the state.
According to LASTMA, the suspect words were, “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 suspect was apprehended on the Olu Holloway Road by Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by members of the agency’s Monitoring/Surveillance team, led by Mr. Ashafa Moyosore, according to Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, the director of LASTMA’s public affairs department (Zonal Head).
Oreagba claimed that in response to complaints made by members of the driving public (Obinna Kingsley and Adewusi Adebola) via LASTMA hotlines and social media handles, the agency conducted specialized monitoring and surveillance operations on the suspect and had him arrested.
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.”
As a result, the head of LASTMA warned the public to be aware of such phony traffic officers, claiming that the organization has a cashless policy and that anyone captured for violating the law will have a “Referral Notice” given to them and will be tried in court.
“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.
