Three officers have been brought before an inquiry panel by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) for allegedly extorting drivers.
This was said by Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, General Manager of LASTMA, in a statement released on Sunday in Lagos by LASTMA’s Public Affairs Unit.
Oreagba stated that a seven-person inquiry panel established to fully investigate the publicised claims has summoned all authorities implicated in the case to come before it.
LASTMA was responding to a claim that its agents were cracking down on motorists by fabricating charges.
The agency’s representatives are alleged to have obtained payments of N13, 000, N15, 000, and N20, 000 from several commercial bus drivers in Lagos.
Oreagba added that the panel would carefully review each piece of evidence related to the allegation.
Any official found to be at fault will suffer the repercussions outlined in the State Civil Service’s current rule, he said.
“We have set up a seven-man investigation panel to thoroughly look into those alleged extortions levelled against some of our officials.
“I assure the public that the outcome of the panel would be made public.
“We have it on record that some of our officials alleged to be found wanting for official misconduct or unethical behaviour recently are currently facing disciplinary panel.
“The management would not condone any act of indiscipline from any official,” Oreagba said.
He urged members of the public to always use the Agency’s complaint hotlines (08100565860/08174722227/08129928597) to file complaints with supporting documentation against any misbehaving officials.
The general manager, however, emphasised that numerous LASTMA officials carried out their official duties with dedication, diligence, and professionalism.
During the LASTMA link programme on Traffic Radio, he claimed that this was seen, with many Lagosians praising the efforts of traffic control officers.
The head of LASTMA urged Lagosns to follow traffic laws in order to avoid getting into trouble with the law.
Oreagba emphasised that some offenders enjoyed providing bribes to traffic officials in order to avoid prosecution, unaware that both the donor and the taker of the money were breaking the law.
He added that any motorists with genuine complaints or reports should equally reach out to LASTMA via the Agency’s various social media channels (Instagram- ekolastma), (Twitter- @followlastma), (email –info@lastmalagos.com), (Facebook -ekolastma) and (YouTube – LastmaTV).
