LASTMA arrests fake officer over N140,000 extortion

LASTMA arrests fake officer over N140,000 extortion

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have apprehended an alleged serial impersonator for  allegedly collecting N140,000 from owners of vehicles impounded over traffic infractions.

The agency’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Taofiq Adebayo, confirmed the  development in a statement yesterday.

Adebayo said the suspect was apprehended by the monitoring and surveillance team of the agency at Oshodi.

He said the suspect was nabbed after the agency received complaints of extortions from owners of inter-state commercial buses,  impounded and ticketed for traffic infractions around Moshalasi by the Alaka area of Surulere.

Adebayo explained that investigations conducted,  revealed that the suspect, Femi Adegbemi, had been collecting huge amounts of money from innocent owners of vehicles impounded by LASTMA officials during enforcement operations.

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“The arrested suspect collected N140,000 from owners/drivers by promising to help them get their impounded vehicles released from the agency’s custody.”

“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users,  particularly owners of impounded vehicles on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from them. By such acts, they are  tarnishing the image of the agency before the public,” he said.

Adebayo said the General Manager of LASTMA, Bakare-Oki Olalekan, warned the public to be wary of such  unscrupulous elements, noting that the agency operated a cashless policy.

He said that apprehended violators were often charged to court via a ‘Referral Notice’ issued to them, assuring that more surveillance/monitoring personnel had been strategically deployed to hunt unscrupulous elements,  duping innocent motoring public across the state.

The 56-year-old suspect,  Adegbemi, was said to have confessed to the crime.

“He confessed that he collected N140,000 from owners of the impounded inter-state commercial vehicles.

“Adegbemi  who confirmed to be living at 9, Anifowose Street, Somolu, confessed further to be making an average of N250,000 weekly from the illegal deal with his other colleagues.

“He, however, promised to turn a new leaf if let off the hook by the state  government.”

LASTMA arrests fake officer over N140,000 extortion