Joy Anyim
For driving against traffic, nine drivers have been ordered to forfeit their vehicles to the Lagos State Government, following their arraignment at the Lagos State Mobile Court, in Oshodi.
The drivers were arrested by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force), around Cele and Iyana-Isolo bus-stops along Oshodi-Mile 2 Expressway.
Chairman of the agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi who spoke on the development said a total of 21 vehicles were impounded and nine drivers arrested for driving against traffic (One-Way).
Egbeyemi, who led the operation, said 12 drivers had also absconded leaving their vehicles on sighting the operatives.
The arrested drivers were arraigned before Magistrate (Mrs.) Salau Omobola for the offence which is punishable under Part (III) item 27 of the ‘Transport Sector’ of Lagos State 2018.
Magistrate Omobola pronounced outright forfeiture of their nine vehicles to the state government after the Defendants (drivers) admitted guilty to the One-Way traffic offence charged against them.
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As part of the judgment, the court also pronounced a ’20-hour Community Service’ as additional punishment each to the arraigned driver.
Vehicles forfeited to the government included a Toyota Hilux, Nissan Bus, Volkswagen Bus, Peugeot Car and others.
Egbeyemi further disclosed that the agency had received serious complaints from motorists and residents on the activities of drivers plying one-way route, causing serious traffic gridlock on a daily basis.
According to the chairman, “The 21 impounded vehicles and 9 arrested drivers ran into our enforcement team while we were returning from the demolition exercise at Eric Moore and Orile-Iganmu along Lagos-Badagry Expressway”
“Honestly speaking it is painful that with high level of enlightenment campaigns and several warnings by the government motorists including private car owners can still be driving against flow of traffic in such a long magnitude thereby blocking on-coming vehicles to a stand still at Iyana-Isolo.”
He however advised the other 12 drivers on the run to immediately report to the agency for prosecutions.
