The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has denied the alleged assault of a commercial bus driver, Olasunkanmi Adejare, on April 12, 2021.
This was in response to a report by PUNCH Metro titled, “‘LASTMA thugs’ brutalise driver, impound bus, agency ignores victim’s petition”.
According to a statement signed by the Asst. Director, Public Affairs, LASTMA, Filade Olumide, Adejare was a serial offender who had written many petitions and had been invited to make his case at the mobile court.
The statement also noted that Adejare was apprehended for dropping and picking passengers on the Oshodi Bridge Expressway towards Anthony Bridge by LASTMA officials and police officers attached to LASTMA, adding that the driver lied that he was picking up a friend.
The statement reads in part, “Investigations revealed that it was a combination of LASTMA and Police officers attached to LASTMA that apprehended the vehicle for dropping and picking passengers on the Oshodi Bridge Expressway towards Anthony Bridge since April 12, 2021, but lied that he was waiting for his friend who went to urinate. Picture evidence negating his claim is attached.
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“The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, stated that the case has been on since April 2021 while Adejare has refused to admit committing any traffic offence even after writing so many petitions which were investigated, he was advised to submit himself to the mobile court for adjudication. He absconded since then only for him to appear on the pages of a newspaper.
“Meanwhile, it should be noted that Adejare is a serial offender with a penchant for writing petitions when apprehended, in order to evade justice based on sentiments. He made this known in one of his petitions of earlier traffic law violations committed and was released on humanitarian and compassionate ground.
Adejare said in the publication that he ‘realised that because he wrote petitions against them to the ministry, that was why they did not want to release the vehicle’. The agency cannot prejudice his case as it is already in court.
The complainant, Adejare also accused the agency of having stolen the tyres he went to purchase at Ladipo spare parts market but when asked to present evidence of the purchase (receipt) and other documentary evidence, he could not provide any.
“It should be noted that the accusation of assault by LASTMA officers ab-initio was not part of Adejare’s initial claim and members of the public are advised to disregard this blatant untruth being peddled.
“The Head of Monitoring and Surveillance and the Director of Legal of LASTMA mentioned in the story as supporting the officers that apprehended Adejare are known to be impartial cerebral.
“It is hereby implied that from the above denial, it is the complainant that has not cooperated in resolving his case, while also trying to evade justice through frivolous and multiple accusations, while he also has refused to abide by the rule of law.”
