LASTMA Arrests Serial Impersonator

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has arrested a serial impersonator who uses the agency’s name to defraud members of the public.

The spokesperson of the agency, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday.

Taofiq said that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday by the monitoring and surveillance team of the agency at Oshodi, after allegedly collecting N140,000 from owners of vehicles impounded for traffic infractions.

According to him, the suspect was arrested after the agency received complaints of extortions from owners of inter-state commercial buses impounded and ticketed for traffic infractions around Moshalasi by Alaka area of Surulere.

He said that investigations conducted revealed that the arrested suspect (name withheld), has been collecting huge sums of money from innocent owners of vehicles impounded by LASTMA officials during enforcement operations.

Taofiq added that the suspect confessed to making an average of N250,000 weekly from the illegal deal with his other colleagues, now at large.

“The arrested suspect collected N140,000 from [car] owners and drivers by promising to help them get their impounded vehicles released from the custody of the agency.

“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users, particularly owners of impounded vehicles on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from different owners of impounded vehicles.

“The impostor has been tarnishing the good image of the agency before the public,” he said.