Crime
LASTMA summons 3 officials over alleged extortion
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has summoned three officers before an investigation panel over the alleged extortion of drivers.
The General Manager, of LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, said this in a statement through the Public Affairs Unit of LASTMA in Lagos on Sunday.
Oreagba said that the agency had summoned all officials mentioned in the matter to appear before a seven-man investigation panel set up to look thoroughly into those allegations as published.
LASTMA was reacting to an allegation against LASTMA officials that they clamped down on motorists with trumped-up charges.
The officials of the agency were accused of collecting sums of N13, 000, N15, 000 and N20, 000 from different commercial bus drivers in Lagos.
Oreagba stated further that all evidence contained in the allegation would be thoroughly scrutinised by the panel.
He said that any official found culpable would face the consequences under the extant rule of the State Civil Service as specified.
“We have set up a seven-man investigation panel to thoroughly look into those alleged extortions levelled against some of our officials.
” I assure the public that the outcome of the panel would be made public.
“We have it on record that some of our officials alleged to be found wanting for official misconduct or unethical behaviour recently are currently facing disciplinary panel.
“The management would not condone any act of indiscipline from any official,” Oreagba said.
He encouraged members of the public to always come forward with their complaints with evidence against any misbehaved officials via the Agency’s Complaint hotlines:(08100565860/08174722227/08129928597).
The general manager, however, pointed out that there were many LASTMA officials that were dedicated, conscientious and professional in carrying out their official functions.
He said this was observed during the LASTMA connect programme on Traffic Radio with many Lagosians acknowledging the good work of traffic control personnel.
The LASTMA boss advised road users in Lagos to obey the traffic regulations so as not to run foul of the law.
Oreagba stressed that some violators were fond of offering traffic personnel bribes to avoid prosecution without realising that the law frowned on both the giver and the taker.
He added that any motorists with genuine complaints or reports should equally reach out to LASTMA via the Agency’s various social media channels (Instagram- ekolastma), (Twitter- @followlastma), (email –info@lastmalagos.com), (Facebook -ekolastma) and (YouTube – LastmaTV).
The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a cult initiation ceremony in Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka.
According to Ikenga, the operation was carried out by police operatives around 9:30am on June 15, leading to the arrest of six suspects at the scene.
Recovered during the raid were one Jojef pump action gun, two cartridges, and a golden-coloured Lexus SUV with registration number ATN 202 AE. Other items found include two cutlasses, two scissors, a cap bearing the inscription of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, charms, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.
“They are currently undergoing police interrogation to get more insight into their modus operandi, after which the case will be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations,” Ikenga stated.
The police spokesperson reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to fighting cultism and other related crimes across the state.
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, remanded two persons, Olaitan Fasasi and Kehinde Tobiloba in a correctional facility over alleged attempted murder.
Fasasi, 40, and Tobiloba, 26, whose addresses were not provided, are being charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and membership of a secret society.
The Magistrate, Mr L.A Owolabi, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.
Owolabi directed the police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
He thereafter adjourned the case until May 31 for mention.
The Prosecutor, Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants committed the offences at about 5.02p.m on Feb. 15, at Mushin, Lagos.
She said that Fasasi, Tobiloba and others now at large, attempted to commit murder by shooting at a resident, Alfred Ademola.
“They armed themselves with a locally made gun. They belong to Eiye Confraternity, a group proscribed by law,”, she said.
Ikhayere said that the offences contravened Sections 230(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2012.
He said that the actions of the defendants also contravened Section 2(3)(a)(b)(c)(d) of the unlawful societies and Cultism Law of Lagos State Law.
An Area Court in Jos, on Tuesday, sentenced one Jeptha John, to three months imprisonment for stealing a Redmi mobile phone valued at N165, 000.
The judge, Shawomi Bokkos, sentenced the John after he pleaded guilty to the offence.
The judge, however, gave the convict an option to pay N20, 000 fine and N50, 000 restitution to the complainant.
Bokkos said that if the convict defaulted in paying the restitution, three months should be added to his sentence to make it six months imprisonment.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp Monday Dabit, told the court that the case was reported at the B Division Police Station, Jos, on Dec. 1, 2024, by Ms Nerat Danjuma.
He said that the complainant alleged that the defendant trespassed into her house and stole her mobile phone valued at N165, 000.
The prosecutor further told the court that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code, Law of Northern Nigeria.
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