very very sad....this nation is heading to the bottom of the pit..i had to sell my car to avoid this police tout and all other uniform men who want to make cheap money. now am free of moving about..with taxi and bus

Why can't the sign be a bit higher so all and sundry can see it (above any makeshift umbrella). OP well done for letting us know. A word is enough for the wise.

The problem with Nigeria is that the criminals have taken over all spheres of government and governance. In other countries, Criminals are in jail or in hiding and far from government and governance.
however, this has become more obvious in Lagos with each passing day . They care less and less and do whatever they deem fit and don't give a hoot as far as it will serve their evil purpose

First off I think, regardless of how we spin it, I think it is both honorable and commendible that the senior officers left you off the hook on his discretion. It is also very good that you stood your ground and took the case to the senior officer.....

These aside, the traffic laws are still valid, beneficial to us all. We need to collectively build the system. It is true that ignorance is not an excuse. We cannot flout laws and claim ignorance or hardship to the masses.........

Shey na you dem dey call lazy future leaders?

dominique: Was that epistle necessary? The whole thing could have been summed up to two or three tidy sentences.

Well, just like sometimes when some of us who read newspapers religiously, scan it at the times we are busy, the best the OP could have done for those who just wanna scan this is to highlight the major points! Well, not e'one can be satisfied!!!

mapet: First off I think, regardless of how we spin it, I think it is both honorable and commendible that the senior officers left you off the hook on his discretion. It is also very good that you stood your ground and took the case to the senior officer.....

These aside, the traffic laws are still valid, beneficial to us all. We need to collectively build the system. It is true that ignorance is not an excuse. We cannot flout laws and claim ignorance or hardship to the masses.........

What exactly is your point (assuming you have any), in the context of the issue being discussed here? Some of you are so detached from reality to the extent that it is unbelievable.

I tot the sign was for the filling station not the road. I was once confused too

Tokotaya: Experience narrated as it happened actually has its value, perhaps more so than than one summed up in bullet points. That the reading/writing culture is dying should not make us forget this. As popular as the SMS culture has become, many still appreciate prose.

Nonsense. . . .what happens to brevity and objectivity.Someone wrote a writeup like a pupil and you expect every sensible person here to read it ? learn to write essay, please !

God will bless u @ OP, pls whoever that have such info shud not hesitate to let us know in this forum. I was caught inside National theartre Iganmu for same offence 2 weeks ago, yet the policemen did nt show me sign of No entry. One of the policemen followed me to ATM along Ebutte metta, to withdraw cash in order to bail my car
So when nxt u visit there, park ur car and ask for the right way.

komek: God will bless u @ OP, pls whoever that have such info shud not hesitate to let us know in this forum. I was caught inside National theartre Iganmu for same offence 2 weeks ago, yet the policemen did nt show me sign of No entry. One of the policemen followed me to ATM along Ebutte metta, to withdraw cash in order to bail my car
So when nxt u visit there, park ur car and ask for the right way.

Thanks for this.

VALIDATOR: The truth is that you would not have been able to summon enough courage to resist paying the bribe. They could easily rope you in for other more serious offenses such as being the one who remotely crashed kaduna state governor's helicopter;anything;just anything. There is no rule of law in this country. So,the wise thing is to negotiate your way out and keep moving.Trying to prove your innocence will work only if the other party is truly interested in justice.

Bros, with dues RESPECT, l completely disagree with this your theory!
It is the worst position to take in this kind of situation simply because IT EMBOLDENS THE OPPRESSOR FURTHER.

The reason crime and blatant oppression by armed police especially has manifested without restraint in this country is because "WE ALL WANT TO NEGOTIATE AND KEEP MOVING ON!

From Mr. President to the clueless Clerk in a local Government, ALL are aware that the average Nigerian wants to "negotiate and move-on" [/b]and thus, we have become a milk-cow for these kind of oppression.

What is wrong in sacrificing some "time and energy" to prove your innocence and in the process, correct a glaring injustice?

Everybody does not want to sacrifice ANYTHING, the crooks know this and at the end of the day, we are the same ones that will turn around and complain that this government is very corrupt.

[b]By "Negotiation and moving on", you are aiding and abetting that same corruption and you therefore become a SLAVE to corrupt public servants!

I know its not an easy thing to do but it becomes much more easier when more and more people adopt that position as against on Mr. Kasali ONLY trying to prove and get his 'rights'.

*When will our "Poli-trick-tians" stop taking us for granted?
*When will Policemen stop firing and discharging bullets on innocent Nigerians?
*When will Governors and LGA Chairmen stop using our money to buy houses overseas?
*When will our Religious leaders (Pastors and Bishops) stop pimping our pockets in the name of God?
*When will Lecturers stop asking for "favors" from students?
*When will bus drivers and conductors stop increasing transport fare at will?
*When will Soldiers stop harassing and abusing civilians?

WHEN WE ALL SAY WE WILL SACRIFICE OUR TIME AND ENERGY TO DEMAND OUR RIGHT.

At times, l conclude that NIGERIANS ARE THE MOST SELFISH AND SELF-CENTERED HUMANS God ever created ...
....and that is why we will remain very backward and pauperized even in the midst of plenty!

Our Leaders buy Airplanes for transport while we cant even boats of clean drinking water, talk-less of electricity since they know we will keep quiet just to keep "moving-on"!

Look at the recent example in Egypt: The people stood their ground, sacrificed their daily activities (including business and income), just to tell the President that he can ride over them roughshod!

He BACKED DOWN eventually, even when the military who were protecting him saw the hundreds of thousands in the street, they knew that their bullets will finish before they could KILL AL OF THEM and after that, justice on they themselves will be very SWIFT!

That is how "masses assert themselves" ...with NUMBERS!

Nigerians must learn not to think too much about their selfish and personal interest, if they want change in their society.

FREEDOM IS NOT GIVEN, IT IS TAKEN.....mostly BY FORCE!

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~Bluetooth:


Nonsense. . . .what happens to brevity and objectivity.Someone wrote a writeup like a pupil and you expect every sensible person here to read it ? learn to write essay, please !

There is such a thing as a book, you know. They are written words numbering in hundreds of thousands. And in spite of what you might think, people still read them!

mapet: First off I think, regardless of how we spin it, I think it is both honorable and commendible that the senior officers left you off the hook on his discretion. It is also very good that you stood your ground and took the case to the senior officer.....

These aside, the traffic laws are still valid, beneficial to us all. We need to collectively build the system. It is true that ignorance is not an excuse. We cannot flout laws and claim ignorance or hardship to the masses.........

This is NOT a case of 'flouting the law and claiming ignorance".
It is a case of "calculated deception and entrapment, in other to intimidate and blackmail the victim into parting with money, a further case of corrupt enrichment"!

In enlightened societies, no judge will ever convict you, if your accuser has not done "everything possible" to warn you or make it obvious that you are about to commit an offense.

When that sign is BOLD AND CLEARLY VISIBLE, that is when you can postulate a case of "ignorance not being an excuse".
Where there is no law, there cant be an offense.
What is the purpose of a "public sign" .....if it is hidden/covered-up, so the public will not see it?

Just like somewhere around Gbagada, just after you cross the bridge going towards the OLD JOLAD HOSPITAL, the "One Way sign" was placed behind a kiosk where a woman 'deliberately' sells roasted plantain(covering the whole pole!) and the Policemen then placed a CARTON of Milk on the roof of the Kiosk, to cover the "Sign" from the visibility of coming drivers.

Once they arrest you, the woman has been instructed to quickly and immediately remove the Carton!
In my case, l paused at the junction, did not see any "No Entry Sign" but subconsciously noticed the Carton because its position on the roof of that Kiosk was "out of place"!

When l was arrested and l said there was no sign, l was shown the "now magically visible sign"!

I screamed obscenities at them .....and was even lucky to spot the carton (now residing happily by the roasted plantain sellers side) and told them that they should try better next time 'cos l am willing to drag this one as far as the supreme court with them.

I quickly started taking pictures (using my phone) of everything connected to the "case" so l can show the Judge and by the time l finished, they have disappeared!

Of-course, my time was wasted consumed but l am sure they would think twice before pulling that one on the next victim.


"Calculated deception and entrapment" are valid defense in law.
I turn it over to qualified lawyers in the house, me na layman.

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What bothers me more than the well-known dubious policemen is the fact that people are actually complaining about the length of the post. You'd be surprised to find that most of them are graduates who claim to have done their projects and theses themselves. This is so sad, what lies ahead for kids who will be raised by these people?

However, I thoroughly enjoyed the post and commend it, it was well composed and structured and at the same passed his message across effectively.

Driving on Lagos roads nowadays is hazardous to your pockets. One day, a street is for two way traffic and the next,it permits only one way traffic. You have LASTMA and black boys hiding waiting for their next victim.

Why should that road be made for only one way traffic? I would have entered the same trap as the poster and I would make sure I check road signs regularly.

Who knows,the road leading into the expressway from my house might be a one way traffic tomorrow morning.Speechless!

dominique: Was that epistle necessary? The whole thing could have been summed up to two or three tidy sentences.

On the contrary, I actually enjoyed the narrative write-up including the minute details. And then the pictures.
Tokotaya, thumbs up jare. I bet you must be a journalist or writer of some sort.

Thanks Bro. You are right on point.
The last time I visited that Ijaye rd was like a year, Only to be there again just 2 saturdays ago for a wedding at one Anglican church down the road. I had already shot my car into d road but had to pull over by the bread and r/card sellers at d junction to get the direction because I was not too sure. Hardly had I stopped and I saw 2 guys decked in Army green khaki telling me I'm on one way. I told them I only wanted to make inquiries as to my direction. Then I saw the police vehicle drove out towards Kola with a couple of miserable looking police in it. And just immediately 3 vehicles carrying wedding decors breezed into the road and I quickly followed suit. That was how I escaped. Of course I was only lucky because I didn't see any sign prohibiting me. Eko wenjele!!!

....well I take no responsibilty for you inability to reason.....

pro01:

What exactly is your point (assuming you have any), in the context of the issue being discussed here? Some of you are so detached from reality to the extent that it is unbelievable.

mapet: ....well I take no responsibilty for you inability to reason.....

You do have to take sole responsibility for your paucity of sense.

I can not "claim" ignorance of the law even where your foolish LASG fails to designate one way roads? And it is my responsibility to "build the system"? How? By taking it upon my self to erect clear and bold NO ENTRY signs on all one way roads in the state?

You really do have to bear responsibility for such asinine reasoning.

i was a victim of this last week in my own case they actually cover the sign with a cloth. I was going to millenium estate as i tried to negotiate the turning i saw one nonentity in mufty standing looking at me while i waited for school children to cross and i thought the guy was an agbero as i drove in he stopped me and brought out a shot gun. In a nutshell i was taken to the police station cos i insited on going to court and pay the fine. I noticed that they have no court to take me to all they wanted was my money after wasting much of my time i parted with 3k so that i can proceed on my daily activities. Please what can we do to curb this menace honestly it is annoying, on that day i felt like setting the station ablaze.

This is painful...How come i never read this post before going to ijaiye today around 3pm. i was stopped there by the local government guys saying i took one way.i must i was really bitter. How can you convert a popular dual road to one way without a very big sign. i really put up a scene but i ended up paying 1k. so painful

dominique: Was that epistle necessary? The whole thing could have been summed up to two or three tidy sentences.

Was it necessary to show us all your level of ignorance?

mapet: First off I think, regardless of how we spin it, I think it is both honorable and commendible that the senior officers left you off the hook on his discretion. It is also very good that you stood your ground and took the case to the senior officer.....

These aside, the traffic laws are still valid, beneficial to us all. We need to collectively build the system. It is true that ignorance is not an excuse. We cannot flout laws and claim ignorance or hardship to the masses.........

Someone needs to box you soundly about the ears!

The 'ignorance is not an excuse' line is oft abused by Nigerian Police.

FYsol: This is painful...How come i never read this post before going to ijaiye today around 3pm. i was stopped there by the local government guys saying i took one way.i must i was really bitter. How can you convert a popular dual road to one way without a very big sign. i really put up a scene but i ended up paying 1k. so painful

Police will take charge in mufty in the morning till abt 9 am and go to another location somewhere in that axis for this same purpose (they called this action raiding, cos it is intentional), the LG agents will take charge from 9am. I got to know abt all these because i spent a lot of time at the station infact they have a record book of the amount made, a book for the returns each department brings on daily basis. Nigeria police is rotten.

Not just the Police, the "WHOLE SYSTEM" IS ROTTEN!

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