The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested a 47-year-old man, Mr. Adetayo Adewodun, for impersonating a LASTMA officer and extorting money from a motorist at Itire Junction, Lagos.
According to the Agency, Adewodun, posing as a LASTMA operative, stopped a motorist, Mr. Ayano Stephen, who was driving a white Hilux vehicle belonging to a construction company, accusing him of making an illegal turn. He then demanded ₦80,000 as a supposed fine, but after negotiation, extorted ₦7,800 the only cash in the driver’s possession.
The motorist, suspecting foul play after the encounter, contacted LASTMA’s toll-free line to verify the officer’s identity. Acting swiftly on the report, officials from LASTMA’s Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, under the directive of the General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, stormed the area. The suspect attempted to flee but was caught and taken to the Agency’s headquarters at Oshodi for interrogation.
During questioning, Adewodun confessed to being part of a three-man syndicate that regularly disguises as LASTMA officials to extort unsuspecting motorists, particularly around the Itire axis. He admitted that the group makes an average of ₦65,000 daily from such illegal activities.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Bakare-Oki, commended the vigilance of the motorist who promptly reported the incident. He reiterated the Agency’s commitment to integrity and professionalism, warning that LASTMA would not tolerate impersonation or fraudulent practices.
Bakare-Oki also reminded the public that genuine LASTMA officials can be identified through their official uniforms, name tags, and service identification numbers. He urged motorists to report any suspicious activity or fake enforcement attempts through the Agency’s verified emergency line (080000527862), assuring that immediate action would be taken.
He further disclosed that the suspect would be prosecuted before a Mobile Court to serve as a deterrent to others, reaffirming LASTMA’s resolve to uphold order, discipline, and sanity on Lagos roads while protecting law-abiding motorists from extortion.