Man Recruits Self As LASTMA Officer To Extort From Motorists

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 45-year old man, Agbaje Shakiru, has recruited self as a LASTMA officer after he understudied the operation of the agency, sew their uniform and started working by controlling traffic and obtaining money from motorists on Lagos State roads.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Police Intelligence team from Mushin Division accosted Shakiru at LUTH Junction and interrogated him to know if he was a staff of LASTMA.

He claimed he was a staff and was asked to identify himself; he told the Police he needed not to do that since the Police have seen he was wearing LASTMA uniform doing the work including obtaining money from motorists as LASTMA usually does.

He was arrested and taken to the Police Station for more interrogation, where he eventually confessed he was not employed by the Government and had been doing the work to feed his family.

However, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for impersonation, extortion and performing illegal duty.

He pleaded not guilty. 

The prosecutor, Rukayat Ogundeji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove he was culpable for the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.D. Njoku, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will meet his bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned due to the strike by the Judicial workers and no date has been fixed for hearing of the matter.