Fake LASTMA officer sentenced to two years in prison for extorting motorists and earning over one million naira per month.

On Monday, March 27, 2023, a Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting in Bolade sentenced Omotutu Bamidele to two years in prison for impersonating and extorting money from Lagos motorists.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) charged Bamidele with impersonating a LASTMA officer.

Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Director Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of (LASTMA), said in a press statement that Magistrate Kehinde Ogundare sentenced Omotutu Bamidele to two years in prison without the option of a fine after he pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the two-count charges.

The two-count charges were as follows:

“I impersonated a public official by posing as a member of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (S.78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015). Did obtain by deception (Section 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State).”

Because of the gravity of the offenses, Magistrate Ogundare emphasized that the convict should serve the jail term without the option of a fine.