As part of efforts to curb illegal activities of individuals impersonating its officers, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has caught one Mr. Adewunmi Taiwo, aged 45, impersonating an officer on Oshodi Bridge to extort and scam motorists. The individual has, for long, been posing as an official of the Agency to intimidate and extort funds from both commercial and private motorists in the vicinity.
Operating a white Hiace Coaster Bus with the licence plate KJA 724 YJ, Mr. Taiwo usually harasses drivers in the area. Upon a meticulous search of his vehicle, LASTMA Officers uncovered an official LASTMA uniform, including a branded raincoat, among his possessions.
During interrogation, Mr. Taiwo, who claimed to hail from Ilesha in Osun State and married with three children, confessed to misusing the uniform to extort unwitting motorists, targeting high-traffic routes along Ikorodu Road and the Oshodi to Mile 2 expressway. He further admitted to generating between N15,000 and N25,000 daily from these unauthorised activities.
Speaking on the development, LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki confirmed that the Agency had received multiple reports regarding extortion linked to the Hiace Coaster Bus. It was in response to this that the LASTMA’s Surveillance and Monitoring Unit was mobilised to investigate and subsequently apprehend the suspect.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to uphold LASTMA’s integrity and professionalism, Let me use this opportunity to issue a stern warning to individuals who exploit LASTMA’s identity for unlawful gains: any attempt to tarnish the Agency’s reputation will be met with the full force of the law as the man will be charged accordingly”, Bakare-Oki declared.
LASTMA reassures the public of its vigilant enforcement efforts to safeguard the efficacy of traffic management in Lagos State. The Agency urges all motorists to report any suspicious activities via LASTMA’s toll-free hotlines (080000527862) to aid in eradicating illegal practices.
