A suspected serial impersonator, identified as Femi Adegbemi, has been apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
Adegbemi was captured following reports of extortion from owners of inter-state commercial buses whose vehicles were impounded and ticketed for traffic infractions around the Moshalasi area by Alaka, Surulere.
Investigations revealed that Adegbemi had been illicitly collecting substantial sums of money from unsuspecting owners of vehicles impounded by LASTMA officials during enforcement operations. He confessed to making an average of N250,000 per week through his fraudulent activities.
“The arrested suspect collected N140,000 from owners/drivers by promising to help them get their impounded vehicles released from the custody of the Agency,” stated Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.
Expressing dismay over the situation, Taofiq emphasized the negative impact of such nefarious acts on the agency’s reputation and urged road users, particularly owners of impounded vehicles, to remain vigilant against such scams.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bakare-Oki Olalekan, issued a warning to the public, advising them to be cautious of fraudulent individuals. He reiterated that the agency operates a cashless policy, whereby violators apprehended are charged to court through a ‘Referral Notice’ issued to them.
Furthermore, Mr. Bakare-Oki Olalekan confirmed that additional surveillance and monitoring personnel have been strategically deployed to combat these fraudulent activities and protect innocent motorists across the state.
