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By Christopher Oji
The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Mobile) Court at Bolade, Oshodi, has sentenced a fake LASTMA Officer, David Oluchkwu, to a four-month jail term for impersonating and extorting money from motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers in Lagos.
The convict was arraigned by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), on a two-count charge of conduct likely to cause breach of peace and impersonation before the court.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, in a statement, yesterday, noted that Magistrate Adesanya Ademola, sentenced David Oluchkwu to a four-month jail term without option of fine after he pleaded guilty’ to the two-count charge against him.
Magistrate Adesanya emphasised that the convict should serve the four months jail term without any option of fine, due to the gravity of the offences committed.
The Court Prosecutor, Barrister Agbaje Oladotun, stated that both offences against the convict contravened Section 168 (D) and Section 78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015), respectively.
In his reaction to the judgement, the General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, said the judgement was a welcome development as it would serve as a deterrent to others who are still extorting money from innocent members of the public under false pretence.
Oreagba said: “Our Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, which has now been fully restructured, would continue to hunt for other bad elements disturbing the peace of the society.”
The general manager, however, urged motorists, particularly commercial bus operators, to adhere strictly to the dictates of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018.
