Nairalanders,

I came across the article below, and because last week at the same location mentioned my wife's car was commandeered in similar fashion, I think a class action suit against LASTMA, their GM, LASG and police collaborators should be done.

If there is a lawyer willing to take this up, as well as other nairalanders who have been extorted in a similar way by these thieves in uniform, we should be able to put a stop to it.

The Lagos state government is losing billions annually to them (I say billions because they on the average collect between N100k to N150k from car owners who fall into their trap. Multiply this by the average of between 10 to 20 cars daily). And they prey on the fact that people would most likely not want to appear at their mobile court and still be forced to pay a fine, Its a racket that probably involves bosses at LASTMA and the Police force.

A Lagos-based businessman, Adeolu Oyinlola, has accused some policemen attached to the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, aka task force, of impounding his vehicle over an alleged traffic offence.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Oyinlola’s driver, Sunday Emem, was driving along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway on Saturday when he was accosted by one of four policemen around the BOC Gases area for allegedly passing a uni-directional road (aka one way).

According to Oyinlola, there was no indication on the road that it was uni-directional, adding that efforts to explain to the policemen that there was no such indication proved abortive as they became hostile and aggressive.

Our correspondent, during a visit to the area on Monday, observed that there was no signage on the road as traders confirmed same.

Speaking to our correspondent on Monday, Oyinlola said his refusal to part with the money demanded by the policemen made them impound his car and book him for a court appearance on Monday, which was later postponed to Thursday.

He said, “We were coming from the DHL side of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and we didn’t have any business on the service lane of the Isolo-Apapa Road, but because they had blocked the Airport Road, we decided to turn to the road leading to Bolade-Oshodi to get to Ikeja.

“When we got to the BOC Gases area, a policeman came out and stopped us that we passed one way; we told him that there was no sign stating that it was one way, but the policeman insisted that it was one way.

“The four policemen forcibly entered the vehicle; one of them chased my driver to the back seat and took over the steering. I came down and opted to walk to their office because I could not squeeze myself with them inside the car because of COVID-19.

“They brought us to the back of their office, trying to negotiate and I think it’s their mode of operation; they will first bring you to the back of the building and if negotiation breaks down, they will take the car into their office, which was what they did to us because we refused to part with money. They took the car into their compound. When I told them that there was no sign where we were arrested, they became belligerent.

“This kind of attitude is wrong and frustrating; the government will allow people to be extorting money from residents and you don’t have anybody to report to for this organised racket to stop. What they are doing is that they are scamming people and it is with the complicity of the government. How can you be ambushing people without any sign and you’re saying they are taking one way?

“We want this scam to stop; they impound people’s cars and collect loads of money and just to inconvenience us, they asked us to come to court this morning (Monday); we got here and they casually told us to come on Thursday for no reason whatsoever. I want justice and my vehicle released. I will go to court to demand damages.”

The task force Public Relations Officer, Femi Malik, promised to investigate the incident and get back to our correspondent.

He said, “I am aware that our men will not go and stand in a place that is not one way and arrest anyone, but I need to find out if this is true or not. I will investigate and get back to you.”

https://punchng.com/one-way-lagos-task-force-impounds-car-on-road-without-signage/

The thieves in uniform cover their name badges with High Visibility vests, use code names to address themselves and collect cash only, so that you cannot have evidence against them.

Imagine the idiots saying they are being insulted by begging them to accept N20k!
What salary is being paid to LASTMA staff for their officials who stand on the roads to own a 2016 RAV4?


Please mods push to front page so that people who have fallen victim will share their experience.

As They hide waiting for you to go through one way baffles me just to collect those outrageous sum of money or impound ones vehicle at which the impounded cars will be sold by them after.