ARRESTED IN LEKKI IS A FAKE LASTMA OFFICER WHO EARNS AT LEAST N40,000 EVERY DAY.

On Wednesday, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority apprehended a phony traffic officer who was dressed in the LASTMA outfit and on phony duty in the state’s Lekki neighborhood.

The suspect was apprehended by a patrol team while on duty monitoring and directing traffic near the Lekki area of the state, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Director, Public Affairs Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq.

The 27-year-old suspect, David Oluchukwu, is alleged to be a member of a criminal organization that has been extorting money from unwary drivers, according to the statement.

The guy was apprehended as he tried to extort money from local commercial bus drivers.

The following sentence was included in the statement: “Preliminary investigations by the agency revealed that the arrested suspect belonged to a criminal gang and they have been extorting huge sums of money from innocent motorists apprehended for various traffic offences ranging from seat-belt, obstructions, illegal over-taking, and One-way at different locations across the State.

Our patrol team saw the suspect collecting money from various commercial bus drivers who were unlawfully dropping and picking up passengers under the Lekki bridge while he was fully outfitted in a LASTMA uniform and wearing a black denim.

“Some dishonest individuals posing as LASTMA personnel and demanding money from unsuspecting motorists is depressing and damages the Agency’s positive public perception.”

“The arrested suspect Mr. David Oluchkwu (27yrs) admitted to having been impersonating a LASTMA employee and extorting money from different motorists, mainly commercial bus drivers nabbed for breaking traffic laws around the state,” it stated.

Mr. Oluchkwu, who was born in the Anambra State town of “Ukpu,” admitted to earning an average of N40,000 per day from the illegal traffic business.

Following the event, Barr. Akerele Kehinde, Director, Legal Department LASTMA, announced that the arrested suspect would be brought up in court today, Thursday, in accordance with the Lagos State Criminal Code.

According to Mr. Oreagba, the agency “operates a cashless policy as any violators arrested are charged to court with a referral notice.” He advised motorists to be aware of phony police who seek payment from them.

However, he issued a warning to individuals posing as LASTMA officials, stating that extra surveillance workers have been dispatched to key sites to look for people extorting innocent motorists under the guise of the organization.