A fake traffic officer identified as Omotutu Bamidele has been nabbed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) around the Ikoyi area of Lagos.
According to a press statement released by Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs Department, LASTMA, the suspect was nabbed on Olu Holloway Road by a monitoring team of the agency.
The agency said it carried out a special monitoring operation and arrested Bamidele in response to complaints from one Obinna Kingsley and Adewusi Adebola via its hotlines/social media handles.
LASTMA said its investigation revealed that the arrested suspect had been extorting large sums of money from motorists for various traffic offenses around Lagos Island.
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The agency urged the general public to be wary of fake traffic officers, stating that it followed a cashless policy and violators apprehended were charged to court with a referral notice issued to them.
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LASTMA also warned other people disguising as its officers to immediately desist from such illegal acts as more surveillance personnel had been strategically deployed to find them.
According to the press release, the 55 year-old confessed to extorting money from motorists, particularly private car owners/ drivers, while disguising as a LASTMA officer.
LASTMA revealed that the suspect lived with his younger brother in one of the army barracks in Lagos and operated around the Ikoyi, Obalende, Apongbon Bridge, Iporin and Olowu areas of the city.
Akerele Kehinde, the Director, Legal Department, LASTMA, said that the arrested suspect would be charged to court with all items recovered from him (fake identity card and a reflective jacket) on Monday, in accordance with the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.
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