Fake LASTMA official gets two months’ imprisoment for impersonation

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Mobile Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi has sentenced a fake Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officer, David Oluchkwu, to four months in jail.

He was imprisoned for impersonation and extortion of unsuspecting members of the public, particularly commercial bus drivers.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, who confirmed the development in a statement said Oluchkwu was arraigned on “two counts bordering on conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and impersonation”, adding that after pleading guilty, he was sentenced without an option of fine.

 Recall that Oluchkwu was arrested in the Lekki area for impersonating and extorting money from motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers in Lagos.

The convict had confessed that he realised an average of N40,000 daily from extorting money from errant drivers who flouted traffic laws.

Adebayo said, “The fake LASTMA officer was arraigned by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on two-count of ‘conduct likely to cause breach of peace’ and ‘impersonation’ before the court.

“The prosecutor, Agbaje Oladotun, stated that both offences levelled against the convict contravened Section 168 (D) and Section 78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015) respectively.

“Magistrate Adesanya Ademola sentenced Oluchkwu to a four-month jail term without any option of fine after he pleaded ‘guilty’ to the two-count levelled against him.

“Magistrate Adesanya emphasised that the convict should serve the four months jail term without any option fine due to the gravity of the offences committed.”

Reacting to the judgement, the General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, said the judgement it would serve as deterrent to others who were still extorting money from innocent members of the public under false pretenses.