BOSS TURNS IN DRIVER WHO KNOCKS DOWN LASTMA OFFICIAL
In a rare show of patriotism and
exemplary behaviour, the General Manager of King Solomon Chariots
Transportation, Johnson Ogbonnaya has voluntarily handed over a driver of the
company, Abuchi Okpara who absconded to Ghana after knocking down an official of
the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Ogunmeru Obafemi in
Igando area of the State, to law enforcement officers.
Okpara had knocked down Obafemi on
August 7, 2017 in Igando area of Alimosho while attempting to evade arrest
after violating the State Traffic Law.
The offender was driving a
Ghana-bound Nigeria commercial vehicle with registration number KJA 633 XT
where he dropped passengers at undesignated spot at Igando. The unwholesome
action of drivers around the axis, according to traffic officials, usually
results in traffic obstruction and gridlock on the ever busy Igando-Ikotun
road, a development which made LASTMA officials to step up enforcement to
ensure free flow of traffic in the area.
Okpara’s action was said to be in
gross violation of the relevant sections of the Lagos State Traffic Laws, and
effort of the traffic official to make him move the vehicle to the nearest
lay-bye proved abortive.
The driver’s failure to obey
Ogunmeru's directive and desperate maneuvering to evade apprehension led to
Okpara running his Toyota Sienna vehicle over the traffic official.
Not even the quick intervention of
nearby policemen could prevent the culprit from driving ferociously in a bid to
escape from the scene of the incident after which he fled to Ghana.
The victim was rushed to lgando
General Hospital for initial treatment, before being transferred to the Lagos
State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for comprehensive medical care.
However, the commitment of police
officers of the Igando Police Station and subsequent support of Ogbonnaya
eventually led to the driver's arrest.
Ogbonnaya personally travelled to
Ghana to apprehend the suspect, brought him to Nigeria and handed him over to
LASTMA and police to face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, the driver was on Monday
charged before an Igando Magistrate Court where he was ordered to be remanded
in Kirikiri Prison.
Speaking on the development,
LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olawale Musa condemned the unwarranted attack on
Ogunmeru in strong terms, saying the trend of vicious attacks on the State
traffic officials by unscrupulous people was of great concern to government,
and warned any aggrieved individual to take advantage of the various complaint
channels set up by the Agency to channel their grievances for immediate action
instead of taking laws into their hands.
He said LASTMA officials remained
committed to discharging their duty and responsibility to the good people of
the State, just as he urged vehicle owners to take a cue from the action of
Ogbonnaya by cooperating with the Agency and ensuring that violators of laws on
their pay roll were not allowed to go scot free.
“We like to commend Mr Ogbonnaya for
this rare display of patriotism and exemplary behaviour and urge others to take
a cue from him because this can only encourage traffic officials to continue discharging
their duty effectively.
“We also like to commend the Igando
Station Police Officers. What we have noticed is that LASTMA officials are
increasingly becoming hesitant in responding to accident victims due to the
fear of being attacked and our message to the public is that attack on our
personnel can be counterproductive to the victims of such accidents since they
usually serve as first responders at most scenes of accidents.
“So, it is in our collective
interest to stop the menace of offenders attacking traffic officials, while
government will also not relent in intensifying efforts to continually address
same,” the LASTMA boss said.
Besides, Musa cautioned traders
against displaying their wares on the road especially as the festive period
approaches to prevent traffic gridlock, while also assuring motorists that the
Agency would continue to work with relevant government agencies to ensure that
roads are protected and free of traffic during and after the Muslims festival.
BOSS TURNS IN DRIVER WHO KNOCKS DOWN LASTMA OFFICIAL
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