[size=18pt]LASTMA blames police for driver’s death[/size]
September 19, 2012 by Sesan Olufowobi 26 Comments

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on Tuesday said policemen, and not LASTMA officials, were responsible for the death of a commercial driver on Monday.

The driver, Monday Jacob, died at Town Planning Junction, Ilupeju area of the state around 9am.

It was gathered that the driver collapsed after an argument with some law enforcement officials who intercepted him over a yet-to-be-determined issue.

The officials were said to be operating in another commercial bus.

Witnesses were, however, not sure if they were LASTMA officials or policemen

But the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, said policemen, who were on different mission, were responsible for the death of the driver. He said the bus conductor and other eyewitness accounts proved it.

Edu said, “It was not LASTMA officials and it has nothing to do with LASTMA at all. The police officers who were involved in the incident have been handed over to the police at Ilupeju police station.

“Those who are saying that LASTMA officials killed the driver are far from the truth. Anyone who cares to know the true side of the story should go to Ilupeju police station, the officers in charge will confirm it. Those officers responsible for the killing of the driver were not operating with LASTMA at all, they were operating on their own.

“The bus conductor has made statement at the station. Based on that, eight of the policemen are already in custody. The bus conductor will identify those involved among the eight.”

The LASTMA boss said he had advised the state police command to set the record straight.

He said, “I have informed Deputy Commissioner of Police. LASTMA was not involved in what happened at all. Those officers were on different operation; it has nothing to do with LASTMA at all.

“Two of the officers are still in hiding, but the remaining policemen have been handed over to the police station where the incident happened.”

Meanwhile, LASTMA spokesman, Richard Omolaja, gave the names of some of the officers simply as Mathew, Lookman and Legba.

Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, could not be reached for comment as her phone rang out. A text message to the phone was also not replied.

http://www.punchng.com/news/lastma-blames-police-for-drivers-death/