FAKE LASTMA OFFICER BAGS 4-MONTHS JAIL TERM

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Mobile) Court in Bolade, Oshodi, convicted a phony LASTMA officer, David Oluchukwu, to four months in prison for impersonation and extortion.

Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, made the announcement in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday.

Taofiq stated that the phony LASTMA official was sentenced to four months in prison on Monday for impersonating and extorting money from motorists, primarily commercial bus drivers, in Lagos.

The convicted phony LASTMA officer was arraigned on a two-Count counts of “Conduct likely to cause breach of peace” and “Impersonation” before the court.

Oluchukwu admitted to the two counts against him and was given a jail sentence without the option of a fine by Magistrate Adesanya Ademola.

Due to the seriousness of the offenses, according to Adesanya, the prison sentence should be served without the possibility of a fine.

Both of the offenses brought against the defendant violated Sections 168 (D) and 78 of the Lagos State Criminal Law (2015), according to the court prosecutor, Agbaje Oladotun.

The general manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, responded to the verdict by calling it a positive step.

According to Oreagba, the punishment would serve as a deterrence to those who were still using false pretenses to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

He claimed that even after being completely reorganized, our surveillance and intelligence unit will keep looking for criminals who might be upsetting the peace in the community.

“We are advising drivers, especially those operating commercial buses, to fully abide by the requirements of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018.”