By Chiemelie Ezeobi
The operatives of the Lagos State Task Force has arrested who attacked and brutalised a Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), official, one Mr. Omomoyesan Olumide, while on official duty around Lekki-Ajah area.
According to the taskforce, the suspect who was identified as 20-year-old Benjamin Archibong, had been charged to court for due prosecution.
Confirming the incident, the taskforce Public Relations Officers, Adebayo Toafiq, said the suspect had attacked and obstructed a Team (B) LASTMA officials, Zone 14, Lekki-Ajah axis from impounding a commercial Volkswagen bus.
He said the driver of the said bus with registration number FKJ 688 XV, had resisted arrest after he was picked up for dropping passengers at unauthorised place around Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos.
Thus he was arrested and charged for assault, obstruction and conduct likely to cause breach of peace before Magistrate Adepeju Odusanya of Court 15 Samuel Ilori Magistrate Courts, Ogba, Lagos.
Prosecuting counsel, Adedoyin Odukoya, disclosed that the suspect pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ and was granted bail of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
While the matter was adjourned to February 28, 2017 for further hearing, the magistrate emphasised that the two sureties must be residents of the state.
Also, the Chairman of the taskforce, Olayinka Egbeyemi, said the suspect was charged to court based on the directive of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.
Egbeyemi said the operatives of the agency also rescued the wounded LASTMA official from the suspect, adding that charges against the suspect would served as a deterrent to the general public not to obstruct any security or government officials while discharging their legitimate duties.
Meanwhile, he said the operatives of the taskforce has commenced the enforcement of the directive of Ambode to arrest any local government and Local Council Development Area officials or touts who claim to be enforcing the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012.
He said: “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has directed that no individual or bodies apart from Lagos State Task Force, RRS, the Nigeria Police and LASTMA is empowered according to the law to enforce the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012.
“These local governments and local council development area officials and touts illegally arrests and extorts money inform of various ‘fines’ from innocent members of the public on the pretence of enforcing the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012 which is not their jurisdiction.
“Any of such persons or touts caught flouting the directive of the Governor would be arrested and charge to court. Lagosians should report such persons to the taskforce office at Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos.”
