Ayodele Olalere and Joy Anyim
Thirteen workers of Seven-Up Bottling Company (7Up) have been arrested and prosecuted by the police for violating the newly-revived traffic laws in Lagos State.
They were also charged for assaulting officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The offenders were prosecuted before a Lagos State Mobile Court presided by Magistrate Olajuwon Amos.
According to Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, the enforcement team of the agency arrested the 13 workers after they assaulted LASTMA officers and injured three of them.
According to him, investigations revealed that these officers were attacked while trying to towed a truck LAGOS MUS 75 XX belonging to the company which was causing serious traffic gridlock.
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He said drivers of 7Up trucks “parked illegally on one side of the road thereby causing serious traffic obstructions to other motorists along toll gate area of the state.
“The prosecution of these 13 arrested workers became imperative to serve as deterrent to others who might want to attack law enforcement officers in the course of enforcement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ‘Executive Order’ on traffic offenders across the State,” he added.
The Defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, therefore, adjourned the matter for commencement of trial to August 8, 2019.
They were all charged for ‘Assault’ and ‘Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace’ under ‘Part III, Item 26’ of the Lagos State Traffic Sector Law.
Those charged to court included Musa Lawal, Sanni Abdullahi, Okechukwu Amaeze, Dayo Sanusi.
Others were James Water, Okunola Femi, Awotoye Afolarin, Ibrahim Umaru, Usbie Stephen, Kelvin Arueyingho, Emmanuel Uche, Salisu Haruna and Jimoh Darihutor.