Lagos: N100,000 bribe lands 5 LASTMA officials in trouble

From Suleiman Idris Lagos

For extorting the sum of One hundred thousand naira (N100, 000) illegally from motorists, five officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been arrested and aiding the agency in their investigation.
They are Bamidele Sheu, a level seven traffic officer aged 48, Ope Adisa, aged 32 and level 5 traffic officer, Babatunde Aluko 37 years old traffic officer level 4,
Jimo Olaosebikan and Emmanuel Padonu, LASTMA disclosed.
The trio of Bamidele, Ope and Babatunde was arrested following a complaint by Akinmolayan Babatunde, a clearing agent for illegal apprehension of his container truck with number AA 553 NGW at Marina area of the Lagos Island and subsequent demand for eighty thousand naira bribe by the traffic officers before the vehicle could be released.
They demanded for N80, 000 but later released the truck after the intervention of the zonal head and collection of N7, 000.
Similarly, the duo of Jimo Olaosebikan and Emmanuel Padonu were arrested by the surveillance unit and provost officials at Okokomaiko along Lagos- Badagry expressway for illegally collecting a sum of N20,000 from a female motorist.
General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olawale Musa expressed dismay at the activities of unscrupulous elements within the agency.
Musa urge the public to alert the agency of unscrupulous activities of any officials, just as he advised motorists to always report any LASTMA official found wanting on duty.
“LASTMA operates a cashless policy and motorists should not give money to any LASTMA official under any circumstance. Furthermore, LASTMA officials on duty are always in uniforms with names conspicuously displayed on the breast pockets and motorists should disregard anybody not in uniform claiming to be Agency officials.
He said such person in mufti should be reported to LASTMA or nearest law enforcement Agency, adding that any motorist dealing with the state traffic official should feel free to demand for his identity and name.
It would be recalled that over 20 officials of the agency have been dismissed this year for various act of misconduct that were considered to be inimical to the service of the state and agency.