LASTMA Officer Converts Impounded Vehicle To His private Vehicle

Cyriacus Izuekwe 

  LASTMA Officer In Police Net Over Seized Vehicle

A senior staff of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr Olufowora Taofik, 48, has been arrested and charged before Ijeshatedo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly converting to personal use a Mercedes Benz van he seized from its owner over a traffic offence.

He was arraigned on Thursday on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing before Magistrate O.A. Gbajumo under the Criminal Code.

Taofik attached to Base 7, Zebra Ejigbo, seized the van with registration number XU 140 JJJ along Iyana Ejigbo area belonging to Marvelous Peace for not using a seat belt.
Mavellous Peace whose vehicle was seized and converted to personal use by LASTMA officer at Ejigbo
His arrest and arraignment followed a petition written by Peace’s lawyer, Barrister Ajibola, when Peace saw Taofik cruising around with the van.
The petition addressed to the Area Commander of Zone D, Mushin and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, accused Taofik and another man at large of converting the seized van to personal use.
In the petition, Peace alleged that Taofik arrested him along Iyana Ejigbo-Ikotun road for not using a seat belt.
He said he pleaded with Taofik and his team after his arrest but they refused and drove the vehicle to their office at Ejigbo Yard.Peace narrated that they asked him to pay certain amount as fine for the offence which he paid and thereafter they asked him to pay  a  fine of N180,000 before the vehicle will be released to him.He said he pleaded with them to accept N90,000 and they refused. He said Taofik insisted that the money must be fully paid before they will release the car. He said he went home to get the money and paid and when he returned to their office and presented the receipt, they started dribbling him, telling to come again and agin for almost two weeks. Peace said he was going regularly to their office with his receipt of payment and Taofik told him on one occasion to forget the vehicle because it had been confiscated by the Lagos State Government.

He said he became frustrated and was thinking about what to do next when information got to him that Taofik was using the vehicle.He said he confirmed the information and saw Taofik with the vehicle. And when he confronted the LASTMA man, he said the van now belonged to him because he bought it from the government.Peace said he went to Ejigbo police division and reported the matter and Taofik was arrested.The matter was transferred to Area D Command in Mushin for further investigation.
Taofik admitted that he was among those who seized the vehicle and the owner did not come early to pay the fine so he had to buy the van from the state government.
He pleaded that he was ready to settle the matter with the owner out of court and return his vehicle to him. When the police charged Taofik to court, he pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with three sureties in like sum.

Taofik was  remanded in prison custody pending when he will fulfil his baill conditions.The matter was adjourned till 23 March 2014.
When P.M.NEWS contacted LASTMA PRO for comment on the matter, he did not pick the reporter’s call and did not reply the text message.

CULLED FROM PM NEWS