Officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has impounded a bullion van and arrested its driver in Apapa area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, for driving against traffic.
The bullion van driver, Seun Odukoya, faces one year jail term without an option of fine as a first offender for flouting the new Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012 while the bullion van will be forfeited to the state government.

The new traffic law says that any bullion van driver who drove against the flow of traffic on conviction by the court will be jailed for one year as a first offender and three years as subsequent offender without an option of fine while the van will be seized by the state government.

The bullion van was arrested on Creek Road, Apapa while conveying money to a new generation bank in the area.

Officials of the warehouse had to come with another van to transfer the money from the impounded van to the new generation bank.

The arrested driver, the first casualty of the new traffic law, and the van with the money were taken to the Taskforce office in Alausa while the driver will be arraigned in court.

The bullion van, with registration number BV 171 BDG, Lagos is owned by the Banker’s Warehouse, while officials of the warehouse have been begging to get the van released but to no avail.

The driver of the bullion van, in a statement he made to the police, admitted that he drove against traffic on Creek Road, saying “I actually drove against traffic” and that he did it because the road was blocked.

When contacted, Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman told P.M .NEWS that the new traffic law would be used to prosecute the driver in the court and that this would serve as deterrent to others who might want to toe the same line.

He said this was not the first time a bullion van had been arrested by the taskforce for driving against the traffic, saying that drivers of bullion vans belonging to the Banker’s Warehouse usually drive against traffic.

“We are telling other bullion van drivers to obey the law of the land. The law is not punitive but a corrective measure. The court will decide the fate of the driver,” he stated.

On whether pressure from the owner of the van would make the taskforce to release the vehicle, Sulaiman said it was not possible as it was only the court that could decide that.

dont8: If Lagos works, is a matter of time, Nigeria will surely get there.

Officials of the warehouse had to come with another van to transfer the money from the impounded van to the new generation bank

ZUBY77: Very good. Weldone Fash

dont8: If Lagos works, is a matter of time, Nigeria will surely get there.

Paul John: But this bankers are wicked. They're begging for the release of the Bullion van and not even the driver

Seun: If the punishment does not fit the crime, it is not justice. 1 year jail term does not fit this crime, and that's all there is to it.
When we read about Shariaists stoning girls for getting pregnant, we are indignant, because even though it works, it's not just.
The solution to petty crimes is not to make the punishment unreasonable and wicked, but to enforce reasonable penalties consistently.

Seun: If the punishment does not fit the crime, it is not justice. 1 year jail term does not fit this crime, and that's all there is to it.
When we read about Shariaists stoning girls for getting pregnant, we are indignant, because even though it works, it's not just.
The solution to petty crimes is not to make the punishment unreasonable and wicked, but to enforce reasonable penalties consistently.

Paul John: But this bankers are wicked. They're begging for the release of the Bullion van and not even the driver

This post got me laughing hard , very true though

Seun: If the punishment does not fit the crime, it is not justice. 1 year jail term does not fit this crime, and that's all there is to it.
When we read about Shariaists stoning girls for getting pregnant, we are indignant, because even though it works, it's not just.
The solution to petty crimes is not to make the punishment unreasonable and wicked, but to enforce reasonable penalties consistently.

kunletiwoo: Don't you know that the offence in question can cause someone's life? Well I think the judgement is worth the crime oo.