A Lagos Mobile Court has ordered the remand of a 47-year-old man, Mr. Adetayo Adewodun, for impersonating an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and extorting money from an unsuspecting motorist.
Mr. Adewodun, who was arrested after posing as a LASTMA official, was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge bordering on conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and impersonation. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
Following his plea, the court ordered that he be remanded in a correctional facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions, while the case was adjourned for further hearing.
It was earlier reported that the suspect was apprehended on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by operatives of the LASTMA Surveillance and Intelligence Unit during a swift enforcement operation at Itire Junction, under the directive of the General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki.
Investigations revealed that the impostor, alongside two accomplices currently at large, had accosted one Mr. Ayano Stephen, the driver of a white Hilux vehicle with registration number GME 259 TE, for allegedly making an unlawful turn. Pretending to be a genuine LASTMA officer, Mr. Adewodun demanded ₦80,000 as a supposed fine for the traffic infraction. The motorist eventually gave him ₦7,800 — the only cash in his possession — before the impostor was intercepted.
Commenting on the development, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the arraignment and remand of the suspect as a welcome and commendable step towards justice. He said the decision by the court would serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements who impersonate traffic officers to defraud members of the public.
“Justice must take its due course, and this action will send a strong warning to others who habitually exploit motorists under false pretences,” Mr. Bakare-Oki stated.
He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to ensuring order, discipline, and sanity on Lagos roads, adding that the Authority would continue to protect law-abiding citizens from fraud and harassment.
The General Manager further urged residents to report cases of impersonation or extortion to LASTMA offices or official communication channels for prompt investigation and action.