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The Lagos State Government has condemned the recent increase in reported cases of assault on Lagos State Traffic officers by unscrupulous members of the public, vowing to prosecute anyone caught assaulting officers in the course of carrying out their official duties and responsibilities.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olajide Oduyoye, disclosed, during his comments on a recent incident of assault by a commercial bus driver at Costain, that the Lagos State Government will, henceforth, prosecute and severely punish offenders as well as motorists and other road users who violate traffic laws.

According to him, “The driver of a commercial bus with registration number FST 300 XV, now at large, plying the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor contrary to the law was accosted by a Traffic Officer at Costain, Iponri, Surulere. He, however, knocked down the Officer as well as the commercial motorcyclist and injured his passenger while trying to escape enforcement”.

Oduyoye gave assurance that the commercial bus driver will be apprehended and warned members of the public to desist from attacking LASTMA officials in the course of their traffic control duties.

Meanwhile, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, has disclosed that a five-count charge has been instituted against the wanted driver at the Special Offences Court of Lagos State sitting at Oshodi, Lagos.

The five-count charge includes wilful obstruction, driving against oncoming traffic, physical assault of traffic officers, resisting arrest by vandalising LASTMA vehicle and use of restricted BRT corridor.

The Magistrate, before adjourning the case to Wednesday, 18th December 2019, granted the two applications made by the prosecution team of State Counsels – Abiola Olateju, Kehinde Akerele and Aderemi Amu – that the vehicle be held in the custody of the Lagos State Taskforce on Special Offences until the defendant appears and that the vehicle shall be forfeited to government after the expiration of one month.