Lawyer petitions LASTMA over SUV seizure in Lagos

A lawyer, Osa Director, has petitioned the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency over the alleged arrest and detention of his SUV vehicle by LASTMA officers in the state.

Osa, a journalist, in a letter addressed to the LASTMA General Manager, a copy of which was made available to The Star on Thursday, August 31, 2023, said his vehicle with registration number KSF 47GJ was seized by the officers at the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

He said: “On Thursday, 24th August 2023, I was driven to the park of ‘God Is Good Motors’, GIGM, at Iyana Ipaja, by my mechanic who was to take the car for repairs thereafter. I was booked to leave for Benin City by GIGM at 7.30 a.m.

“Sadly, when we arrived at the park, two GIGM vehicles were on the designated lanes reserved for parking on the roadside.

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“Another GIGM motor was parked beside, thereby creating double parking. On sighting such, I disembarked from the vehicle parked behind the two GIGM vehicles on the proper parking lot, which was quite a distance and entry point of the adjourning compound to GIGM.

“But to my surprise, as my mechanic who never came down from the car as the ignition was on made to move away, we saw the GIGM driver on the double parking lane rush into his car, and accelerated.

“In the process, he blocked my driver who was negotiating to enter the road.”

The lawyer noted that two policemen and two LASTMA officials dashed out from beside the GIGM vehicle and blocked his car from exiting, adding: “When I turned and approached the police officer who led the team to ask why they obstructed my vehicle’s right of way, he said that the car was under arrest for double parking.”

He however listed the valuables and money in the vehicle to include the sum of $1,700, a Samsung phone, and an expired international passport belonging to his wife.

Osa, who described the LASTMA officers’ action as “barbaric”, urged the agency boss to “use your good offices to release my vehicle and ensure that the above stated valuables and money are intact inside the vehicle.”

The Star