Court remands suspected LASTMA impersonator in Lagos
A Mobile Magistrate Court sitting in the Oshodi area of Lagos State has ordered the remand of a suspect, Adetayo Adewodun, who is standing trial for allegedly impersonating officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and conduct likely to breach the peace.
The LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
On Tuesday that Adewodun was apprehended for impersonating a LASTMA officer for allegedly extorting the sum of N7,800 from an unsuspecting motorist at Itire Junction.
Taofiq had stated that the suspect accosted one Ayano Stephen, who was driving a white Hilux vehicle with number plate GME 259 TE, belonging to a construction firm, for allegedly making an unlawful turn at the Itire junction.
Posing as an operative of LASTMA, Adewodun was said to have deceitfully demanded the sum of N80,000 as a supposed penalty for the traffic violation.
Giving an update on the incident on Thursday, Taofiq noted that the suspect was remanded following his arraignment before a mobile court.
According to him, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against him.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has confirmed that one Mr Adetayo Adewodun, aged 47, who was earlier apprehended for impersonating a LASTMA officer and fraudulently extorting the sum of N7,800 from an unsuspecting motorist at Itire Junction, has been remanded by the Lagos Mobile Court following his arraignment on a two-count charge bordering on conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and impersonation.
“The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the Lagos State Government, was consequently ordered to be remanded in a correctional facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions, as the matter was adjourned for further hearing,” Taofiq stated.
Reacting to the court proceeding, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, stressed that justice must be done in the matter.
The LASTMA GM, speaking through Taofiq, noted that the arraignment would serve as a deterrent to other individuals who may be considering taking such action in the future.
“He emphasised that this judicial action would serve as a stern deterrent to other unscrupulous elements who habitually impersonate LASTMA officers to defraud innocent members of the public under false pretences.
“Bakare-Oki further reaffirmed the Authority’s unwavering commitment to its statutory mandate of entrenching order, discipline, and sanity across Lagos roads, while ensuring that law-abiding citizens are adequately protected from fraudulent exploitation and harassment,” Taofiq concluded.
This is not the first instance of a member of the public impersonating LASTMA officers to extort motorists in Lagos State.
