The General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olajide Oduyoye has assured members of the public of due diligence in the case of the video circulating online of an unprofessional conduct, misbehaviour and public display of violence by one of its’ officers at Aromire junction, Ikeja which occurred on Friday, September 11, 2020.
Oduyoye In a press on Tuesday informs the public that the lady officer, Odunlami Adepeju, and her male subordinate in the video were invited for investigation and that, on conclusion, disciplinary action for misrepresenting the Lagos State Government and the Agency would be meted out to the culprits as laid down in the rules of the extant laws of the Lagos State Civil Service.
The General Manager said that Odunlami Adepeju, in her statement, claimed that at about 2.00pm on Friday she sighted a black Honda vehicle with registration number SF 885 KJA running on red light at Aromire junction while the driver and passenger did not strap the seat belt on, she did not act at the material time but only warned the driver.
She further said that to her dismay, on the vehicle’s return journey, the driver and the passenger were still not strapping the seat belt and she decided to apprehend the recalcitrant driver for the traffic infraction which led to altercation with the passenger biting her finger and the driver punching her head resulting in lacerations which she also said got her enraged.
Oduyoye however noted that though the driver of the vehicle actually committed a traffic infraction, says the LASTMA official should have simply documented the details of the vehicle for action by the Zonal authority instead of allowing the issue to degenerate to the level of being assaulted which led to her becoming angry according to her.
Oduyoye further said that the LASTMA official demonstrated poor professional judgement as a public servant whose conduct is the focus of the public thereby misrepresenting and casting smear on the State Government and the agency.
He however noted that LASTMA as a government agency, trains and continues to retrain its staff on proper discharge of their functions and duties professionally, an example is the recent retraining of all field staff at the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI).
He also enjoined members of the public to continue to report all misdemeanors by any officer on Lagos roads, so that they can make corrections and be better, more efficient and effective traffic managers.
