A Lagos Mobile *Court* has ordered the remand of a 47-year-old man, Mr. Adetayo Adewodun, who was apprehended for impersonating an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and extorting money from a motorist at Itire Junction.
The suspect was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge bordering on conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and impersonation, offences punishable under the Lagos State laws.
Mr. Adewodun, who pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Lagos State Government, was ordered to be remanded in a correctional facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The case was subsequently adjourned for further hearing as the court directed the prosecution to ensure that all witnesses were available at the next sitting.
According to LASTMA, the accused person was apprehended by operatives of the Agency’s Surveillance and Intelligence Unit during a swift enforcement operation carried out under the directive of the General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki.
The operation, which took place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, was part of an ongoing clampdown on individuals impersonating traffic officers and extorting unsuspecting members of the public.
Investigations revealed that the suspect, alongside two accomplices currently at large, stopped one Mr. Ayano Stephen, the driver of a white Hilux vehicle with registration number GME 259 TE, for allegedly making an illegal turn around Itire Junction.
Posing as a bona fide LASTMA operative, Mr. Adewodun reportedly demanded the sum of ₦80,000 as a supposed penalty for the alleged traffic violation.
The unsuspecting motorist, however, explained that he had only ₦7,800 on him, which the impostor deceitfully collected before being apprehended by the surveillance team.
LASTMA officials swiftly moved in to arrest the suspect following intelligence reports about his fraudulent activities within the area.
Confirming the development, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the court’s decision to remand the suspect as a commendable step towards ensuring justice and upholding the rule of law.
He maintained that the arraignment and remand of the impostor would serve as a strong deterrent to other criminal elements who pose as LASTMA officers to extort innocent motorists.
Bakare-Oki further reassured Lagos residents of the Authority’s commitment to maintaining order, discipline, and sanity across the state’s road network.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to always demand proper identification from anyone claiming to be a LASTMA official during traffic enforcement operations.
The General Manager also reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance against corruption, emphasizing that both genuine and fake officers found engaging in extortion would face the full weight of the law.
