Special Anti-Corruption Team Crack Down On LASTMA Officials Over Unlawful Extortions

A special crack team of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has arrested eight of its officers over alleged collection of bribe from motorists, as well as other corrupt practices. The eight officers attached to Agege-Pen Cinema Office of the agency, were arrested last week.According to report, a couple of the eight officials arrested two Lagos painted commercial buses with registration numbers FKJ 770 XT and KRD 558 XM at Abule Egba area of the State for seat belt violation. The actions of the drivers were in violations of the Lagos State Traffic laws, and the buses were subsequently, impounded and taken to the Agege-Pen Cinema Office of the agency for appropriate action.The matter took a new twist at the Agege office when officers who impounded the vehicle in conjunction with the General Duty Officer, allegedly, demanded for the sum of N7,200 bribe each from the bus drivers before the release of the buses.The drivers, who later yielded to the officers’ demand by paying the amount with marked money, later alerted the headquarters of the agency. However, in a successful sting operation, organized and coordinated by the Provost Marshal of the agency, Mr Femi Ajibosho, the officers were later apprehended. In the same vein, the members of the patrol team of the Agency comprising of same indicted officers also arrested a vehicle for traffic laws violation and asked Abolade to facilitate collection of bribe on their behalf from the alleged offender before the release of the vehicle.All the officers involved in the shameful act had been released on bail, but would be made to face the Lagos State Public Service Rules and Regulations for disciplinary action accordingly.