CITIZENS COMPASS —Nemesis has caught up with a 56 year-old Femi Adegbemi, who has been disguising as an operative of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confessed that he weekly rakes an average of ₦250,000 from unsuspecting motorists in the State.
He lives at No. 9, Anifowose Street, Somolu area of Lagos.
The serial impersonator was arrested on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, after collecting the sum of ₦140,000 from owners of vehicles impounded for traffic infractions by the Agency.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed that the suspect was apprehended by the monitoring and surveillance team of the Agency at Oshodi.
The suspect was apprehended after the Agency received complaints of extortions from owners of inter-state commercial buses impounded and ticketed for traffic infractions around Moshalasi by the Alaka area of Surulere.
Investigations conducted revealed that the arrested suspect, Femi Adegbemi, has been collecting huge amounts of money from innocent owners of impounded vehicles by LASTMA officials during enforcement operations.
“The arrested suspect collected ₦140,000 from owners/drivers by promising to help them get their impounded vehicles released from the custody of the Agency”
“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users particularly owners of impounded vehicles on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from different owners of impounded vehicles thereby tarnishing the good image of the Agency before the public”
LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Bakare-Oki Olalekan, warned the general public to be wary of these unscrupulous elements stating that the Agency operates a cashless policy as any violators apprehended are charged to the Court via a ‘Referral Notice’ issued to them.
He confirmed that more surveillance/monitoring personnel have been strategically deployed to hunt for these unscrupulous elements duping innocent motoring public across the State.
The arrested suspect confessed to having collected N140,000 from owners of these impounded interstate commercial vehicles.
Mr. Adegbemi (suspect) who confirmed to be living at No. 9, Anifowose Street, Somolu confessed further to be making an average of N250,000 every week from the illegal deal with his other colleagues.
He however promised to turn a new leaf if left off the hook by the Government.
Meanwhile, the Director, of the Legal Department (LASTMA), Barr. Akerele Kehinde disclosed that the arrested suspect would be immediately charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others.
