The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says its operatives over the weekend nabbed another serial fake traffic officer around Ikoyi area of the state.
In a statement, Director, Public Affairs Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq quoted the General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, as saying that the suspect was nabbed at Olu Holloway Road by Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by a LASTMA Monitoring/Surveillance team led by Mr. Ashafa Moyosore (Zonal Head).
Oreagba said that the agency carried out a special monitoring/surveillance operation about the suspect and got him arrested in response to complaints from motoring public, Obinna Kingsley and Adewusi Adebola, via hotlines/social media handles.
He said the suspect, Mr. Omotutu Bamidele, 55, confessed to having been using a reflective jacket to impersonate a LASTMA officer and extort money from motorists particularly private car owners and drivers at highbrow areas across the state.
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He said that Bamidele confessed to living with his younger brother inside one of the Army Barracks in Lagos.
The agency boss said the suspect further confessed to having operated around Ikoyi, Obalende, Apongbon Bridge, Iporin, Olowu areas apprehending both commercial and private cars for various traffic infractions including driving against traffic (one-way).
He stated that the suspect who hailed from ‘Atijere Town’ in Ondo State said his colleagues and him make an average of N35,000 from extortions on daily basis.
“Any motorists particularly private car owners I caught dropping someone at any undesignated bus stop paid between N15,000 to N20,000 while those caught for driving against traffic (One-way) paid a minimum of N35,000,” the suspect was quoted to have said.
“One Mr. Adewusi Adebola (a complainant) confirmed that the suspect (Omotutu Bamidele) apprehended him for ‘obstruction’ on the 6th of March, 2023 around Spac bus stop by Awolowo Road, Ikoyi and collected N20,000 from him for dropping his colleagues,” the agency boss said.
He said that another complainant, Obinna Kingsley, complained via Twitter that he was forced to transfer N50,000 to Bamidele for ‘obstruction’ on Awolowo Road by Obalende Bridge towards Tafawa Balewa Square (T.B.S).
Meanwhile, the Director, Legal Department of the agency, Barr. Akerele Kehinde disclosed that the suspect would be charged to court with all items recovered from him (fake identity card and reflective jacket) today, March 27, in accordance with the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.