By Christopher Oji
A man, Benjamin Archibong, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba for allegedly beating up an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).
The victim, Omomoyesan Olumide, was said to be on duty around Lekki-Ajah area when he was allegedly attacked by the accused, who was arrested and charged to court by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force, for assault, obstruction and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Prosecuting counsel, Barrister Adedoyin Odukoya, told the court that Archibong attacked and obstructed a team of LASTMA officials, Zone 14, Lekki axis, from impounding a commercial Volkswagen bus with registration number FKJ 688XV, whose driver resisted arrest.
The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned to February 28, 2017 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, said his men rescued the LASTMA official from the accused, adding that the charge would serve as a deterrent to other persons who may want to attack government officials on duty.
He said task force had commenced the enforcement of the directives of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to arrest any local government and local council development area officials or touts caught trying to extort money over the state Road Traffic Law of 2012.
He said the governor had observed that local government, local council development area officials and touts were illegally arresting and extorting money, in form of various “fine,” from innocent members of the public on the pretence of enforcing the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012, which was not under their jurisdiction.
Egbeyemi warned that any local government official, local council development area officials or touts caught flouting the directive of the governor would be arrested and charged to court.
He advised members of the public to report activity of such people to his office.