Lagos auctions 134 seized vehicles, owners weep

The Lagos State Task force in collaboration with the State Ministry of Justice has auctioned 134 vehicles seized by the government.

The auction, which took place on Thursday in Ikeja, attracted members of the public who participated in the sale of the vehicles confiscated for various traffic offences, ranging from driving on ‘one-way’ to wilful obstruction of traffic in various parts of the state.

Contravened traffic offenders, who were the owners of the seized vehicles, broke down in tears during the auction.

Bidders stormed the arena for different vehicles, including mini buses and cars.

Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, Shola Jejeloye, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said the terminal point for any enforcement exercise carried out by the agency was the Mobile Court who determines the fate of vehicles seized for traffic infractions.

“My role as a police officer is to carry out enforcement exercise, one of which is confiscation of vehicles for traffic offences, and handing them over to the mobile court for judgement. I don’t determine the fate or outcome of any vehicle brought before the magistrate in court,” he said.

Jejeloye said traffic offence is not a criminal offence, thus, any offender after arrest could be arraigned before a mobile court.

“Some of the cars being auctioned here were confiscated for obstruction of traffic which only attracts a fine but some people never showed up to claim these cars, hence the forfeiture to the government after the stipulated period and then auctioned,” he added.

Coordinator of Lagos State Special Offences Mobile Court, Mrs Arinola Ogbara-Banjoko, said all 134 vehicles on display had gone through due process of the court of law before being forfeited to the government.

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