Mile 2: Lagos Task Force impounds 98 motorcycles, arraigns 14 operators in court
By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor
The Task Force boss stated further that the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 by ‘Scheduled (1) item 22’ restricted motorcycle operators from plying 375 roads which includes highways and bridges across the State. He noted that report made to his office indicated that “these notorious motorcycle operators after the day work engaged in criminal activities by robbing innocent citizens particularly at Amuwo-Odofin and FESTAC in general.”
The operatives of Lagos State Task Force at Mile 2 area have impounded 98 motorcycles while it arraigns 14 Okada operators in court.
The Chairman of the Agency SP Olayinka Egbeyemi disclosed that these 98 motorcycles were impounded, on Tuesday, around Second Rainbow Bus-stop towards Mile 2 area of the Centre of Excellence.
SP Egbeyemi disclosed further that illegal activities of these motorcycle operators coupled with report of criminal activities against innocent members of the public prompted the actions of the Agency.
He stated that the notorious motorcycle operators were indiscriminately plying restricted routes and robbing innocent members of the public of their valuables such as mobile phones, bags and wrist-watches.
The Task Force boss stated further that the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 by ‘Scheduled (1) item 22’ restricted motorcycle operators from plying 375 roads which includes highways and bridges across the State.
He noted that report made to his office indicated that “these notorious motorcycle operators after the day work engaged in criminal activities by robbing innocent citizens particularly at Amuwo-Odofin and FESTAC in general.”
A statement by the Task Force Head of Public Affairs Unit, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the arrest of 14 notorious motorcycle operators during the operations and that they had been arraigned before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court on the directives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni.
Meanwhile, the arraigned suspects have pleaded guilty after prosecuting lawyers Barrister Adedoyin Odukoya and Barrister Ajibola Olumide read the one count charge of ‘Riding Motorcycles on Prohibited Routes as against Scheduled (1), item 22 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012’ to them.
Magistrate Lateef Owolabi, who thereafter confiscated the 98 impounded motorcycles, ruled that each offender should serve a 10-hour community service at government public places.
The Registrar of the Lagos State Mobile Court Mr. Bakare Jamiyu hinted that they had been taken to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja and other public places in implementation of the court judgment.
The 14 prosecuted motorcyclist offenders include “Joseph Macus (20yrs) Adamawa State, Saida Ibrahim (33yrs) Adamawa State, Imo Isaac (42yrs) Akwa -Ibom State, Julius Cliper (20yrs) Adamawa State, Quis Uba (30yrs) Adamawa State, Solomon Yusuff (25yrs) Adamawa State, Zira Yaya (37yrs) Adamawa State, Ruben Danladi (20yrs) Adamawa, Ali Mohammed (29yrs) Borno State, Musa Gigida (44yrs) Borno State, Jumai Malaya (45yrs) Katsina State, Anas Sulaimon (20yrs) Kebbi State, Zira Kwanki (35yrs) Adamawa State and Bakare Sanusi (21yrs) Kebbi State,” the Adebayo Taofiq’s statement listed.
