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LASTMA Officers

27.01.2022 news VIDEO: Female LASTMA Official Assaults Driver

Published 27th Jan, 2022

By Daniel Ojukwu

Adeleye Sikirulai, a motorist, has accused officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) of assaulting and forcing him to a one-way road for extortion.

The motorist told FIJ that while driving along Ejigbo-Ikotun road on January 18, he was accosted by LASTMA officers and made to park by the roadside.

“A LASTMA officer suddenly jumped in front of my car and gestured something to me. I didn’t understand. He later asked one of their officers, a lady, Fagbenro H., to enter my vehicle and she did,” said Sikirulai.

According to Sikrulai, the officers, Fagbenro H., Odeyingbo K. and Anjorin A., choked him from behind and grabbed his steering wheel and gear, almost causing an accident.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: ‘Security Official’ Handcuffs, Beats LASTMA Officer

“She then asked me to drive further away from the junction and park in front of a white bus. When I parked, she asked, ‘Are you used to us?” He said.

“I was confused because, first, I hadn’t understood my offence, and now the question. I asked for clarity on that question and she said ‘never mind’, that we wait for her colleague.

READ ALSO: UNDERCOVER: From Ikeja to Lekki, LASTMA Officials Operate Like a Criminal Gang

“While we waited, I asked her what my offence was. She still said we wait for her colleague. We were in the vehicle for a few minutes, waiting for her colleague. He eventually arrived and the lady officer opened the back door for him to come in.

“As soon as he stepped in, I asked him what my offence was and he said I didn’t use my seatbelt. To be honest, I wasn’t aware if I wore it at the time, because at this point, I was now parked and not wearing a seatbelt.”

Sikrulai said he attempted to plead with the officers to let him go, but was asked to bribe them as “nothing is free in Lagos”.

“I pleaded with him and he said he couldn’t just let me go like that. In his words, ‘It’s not free; nothing is free in Lagos’. I didn’t have a dime on me and I was running late for work,” he said.

“When he saw that I wasn’t yielding to his request, he asked that I drive to their office. I started the engine and started driving.

“At some point I asked where to divert [sic]. He didn’t respond. He was on a call and the lady didn’t say anything either. I asked again, and before he answered, I had already passed their office by a few meters. I told them I would have to turn in front, and then everything changed.

“The male officer, Odeyingbo K. grabbed and choked me from behind, while the female officer grabbed the steering and gear. It happened all of a sudden; even I was shocked. The action risked the life of other road users and even myself, as the car switched lanes and faced oncoming vehicles. It was finally brought to a halt.

“I got down from the car really furious because I hadn’t argued with them. I didn’t deserve that treatment. Immediately, Odeyingbo also came down and changed the entire narrative, making it seem like I was arrested on the spot while passing one-way.

READ ALSO: LASTMA Official ‘Shatters Glass in Passenger’s Eye’

“I was recording and mentioning their names and also stating that I didn’t pass the one-way and that the officers dragged the steering wheel with me. While I was doing this, their boss, Anjorin A., arrived, pulled out his phone and started taking pictures of my car. I didn’t stop my recording, because it was all I needed. I suspected they were planning to turn the case around.

“While I was recording, Fagbenro suddenly hit me and pushed me hard. I fell on a stone. It was at this moment that onlookers interfered in the matter. They witnessed the woman hit and push me. You can hear them talk and blame the woman for her action. Even Anjorin had to caution her.”

Sikirulai would later follow them to their office, where he was made to pay N40,000 to the Lagos State Government.

He said, after settling the fine, Anjorin snatched the clearance papers and went to the tax office, telling them to deal with him.

When FIJ contacted Olumide Filade, LASTMA spokesperson, he said, “I have watched the video you sent to me, and I’m surprised as to how you have not seen through Adeleye’s untruths. In the video, I personally didn’t see the assault as he was the one recording.

“Secondly, he was to be arrested for seat belt violation, but while trying to evade arrest, he drove to the other side of the road. Thirdly, the Anjorin you mentioned is the zonal head, who normally would not be at that spot unless he was invited when Adeleye tried to resist arrest.

“Fourthly, I’m sure that he never informed you that he had eventually paid the penalty for seat belt violation and resisting arrest. He has also retrieved his vehicle.”

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Published 27th Jan, 2022

By Daniel Ojukwu

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