One Adewunmi Taiwo, a 45-year-old man, has been arrested for impersonating an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and extorting money from motorists.
The suspect was apprehended by LASTMA officers while operating illegally.
Confirming the arrest, LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq revealed that Taiwo admitted to extorting motorists on busy routes, including Ikorodu Road and the Oshodi-Mile 2 expressway.
During the arrest, a LASTMA uniform and a branded raincoat were recovered from him, further proving his fraudulent activities.
“This individual had been posing as an official to intimidate and extort funds from both commercial and private motorists in the vicinity.
“Operating a white Hiace Coaster Bus with the license plate KJA 724 YJ, Mr. Taiwo utilized this guise to harass drivers in the area. Upon a meticulous search of his vehicle, LASTMA Officers uncovered an official LASTMA uniform, including a branded raincoat, among his possessions, confirming his intentions to deceive.
“During interrogation, Mr Taiwo, who claimed to hail from Ilesha in Osun State and is married with three children, confessed to misusing the uniform to extort unwitting motorists, targeting high-traffic routes along Ikorodu Road and the Oshodi to Mile 2 expressway. He further admitted to generating between N15,000 and N25,000 daily from these unauthorized activities,” Adebayo said in a statement.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed that the agency had received several reports of extortion linked to the vehicle Taiwo operates.
In response, LASTMA’s Surveillance and Monitoring Unit was deployed to investigate, leading to the suspect’s eventual arrest.
He said, “We are unwavering in our commitment to uphold LASTMA’s integrity and professionalism,” affirmed Mr. Bakare-Oki. “I take this opportunity to issue a stern warning to individuals who exploit LASTMA’s identity for unlawful gains: any attempt to tarnish the agency’s reputation will be met with the full force of the law as the man will be charged accordingly.”