By Benjamin Alade
The Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi on Monday, 27th of March, 2023 sentenced an arrested fake Lastma Officer (Omotutu Bamidele) to a two- year jail term for impersonating and extorting money from motorists across Lagos.
The convicted fake Lastma Officer was arraigned by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on a two-count charges of “Did impersonate as a public officer by representing as staff of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (S.78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015)” and “Did obtain by fraudulent trick (Sec. 323 of the Criminal Law, Lagos State)” before the court.
In a statement released by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, quoted that Magistrate Kehinde Ogundare, sentenced Omotutu Bamidele to a two-year jail term without any option of fine after he pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the two- count charged levied against him.
Magistrate Ogundare emphasised that the convict should serve the jail term without any option fine due to the gravity of the offences committed.
The Court Prosecutor Barr. Olufemi Adekunle stated that both offences levied against the convict contravened Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015).
In his reaction to the judgement, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bolaji Oreagba, said the judgement was a welcome development as it would serve as deterrent to others who are still extorting money from innocent members of public under false pretence.
According to Oreagba: “Our Monitoring and Surveillance Unit which has now been fully restructured would continue to hunt for other bad elements disturbing the peace of the society”
The General Manager however urged motorists particularly commercial bus operators to adhere strictly to the dictates of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 and avoid attacking Officers of the Agency.
Source: The Guardian
