Crimes

Fake LASTMA officer jailed for extortion

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting in Oshodi has sentenced a fake officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), David Oluchukwu, to a four-month jail term for impersonation and extortion.

The LASTMA Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, made the disclosure via a statement issued on Tuesday.

Taofiq stated that the fake LASTMA officer was sentenced to four months imprisonment on Monday for impersonating and extorting money from motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers in Lagos.

The convicted fake LASTMA officer was arraigned on two-count charges of “conduct likely to cause breach of peace” and “impersonation” before the court.

The Magistrate, Adesanya Ademola, sentenced Oluchukwu to jail term without a fine option after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charges preferred against him.

Ademola said the convict should serve the jail term without a fine option due to the gravity of the offences.

The Court Prosecutor, Agbaje Oladotun, stated that both offences levied against the convict contravened Section 168 (D) and Section 78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015) respectively.

In his reaction to the judgement, the LASTMA General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, said the judgement was a welcome development.

Oreagba stated that the punishment would serve as a deterrent to others who were still extorting money from innocent members of the public under false pretence.

“Our Surveillance and Intelligence Unit which has now been fully restructured will continue to hunt for other bad elements disturbing the peace of the society.

“We are urging motorists, particularly commercial bus operators to adhere strictly to the dictates of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018,” the LASTMA boss said.

The Star