LASTMA: Panel summons officers over alleged extortion

LAGOS State Traffic Management Authority ( LASTMA) has summoned all officials involved in alleged extortion of motorists in the state before a seven- man investigative panel set up to thoroughly look into allegations published by a national newspaper.

The agency’s attention was drawn to a publication in a national newspaper with the caption: ‘ Anger as LASTMA officials clamp down on motorists with trumped- up charges’, dated November 18, 2022, where three officials of the Agency were alleged to have collected N13.000, N15.000 and N20.000 respectively from different commercial bus drivers in Lagos.

General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, who disclosed this over the weekend, said all evidence contained in the publication would be thoroughly scrutinised by the panel and any official found culpable would be made to face the consequences.

“We have set up a seven- man investigation panel to thoroughly look into those alleged extortions levied against some of our officials and I assure the public that the outcome of the panel would be made public, particularly by the newspaper.

“We have it on record that some of our officials to have been found wanting for official misconduct or unethical behaviour and they are currently facing a disciplinary panel as the management would not condone any act of indiscipline from any official,” he said.