The attention of the Lagos State Taskforce has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating online and credited to a reporter from an online media platform associated with Objective Television, wherein it was falsely alleged that officials of the Lagos State Taskforce collect bribes before the release of impounded vehicles.
The Agency categorically debunks this unsubstantiated, defamatory, and entirely false allegation, which is clearly intended to malign the image of the Lagos State Taskforce and its leadership.
Contrary to the claims made in the said report, all enforcement activities carried out by the Agency are properly documented and processed through the appropriate legal channels. Matters relating to impounded vehicles are handled strictly in accordance with the law, with offenders being charged to court for prosecution where necessary. At no point does the Agency or its leadership assume the role of judge in its own case.
The enforcement operations of the Agency are led by senior and highly disciplined police officers who will not compromise their rank, professional career, or integrity for any financial inducement. It is therefore unfair and irresponsible to attempt to tarnish the reputation of officers who have remained committed to the lawful discharge of their duties.
The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, is a man of proven integrity, a lawyer by training and a seasoned police officer by practice. As an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, his decades-long reputation and professional standing cannot be undermined by such baseless and trivial allegations.
It is important to state that the author of the report never engaged the Chairman on the matter as claimed. The report was clearly not investigated, which is a basic prerequisite for balanced reporting as required by the ethics of journalism and international best practices.
It appears the reporter assumed that the pen is mightier than the law and could therefore be used to compel law enforcement authorities to release traffic violators through intimidation or damaging publications on social media. Such an approach disregards due process and shows little regard for public safety, the security of lives, and the maintenance of public order.
Journalists are expected to uphold professionalism and should not engage in character assassination or biased reporting simply to advance the interests of individuals seeking to evade justice. Traffic violations are matters of law and fact, not issues to be determined on the pages of newspapers.
The Lagos State Taskforce therefore encourages any individual who feels aggrieved by enforcement actions to seek redress through the appropriate legal channels. The courts remain the most civilised avenue for the resolution of disputes, rather than resorting to “man-know-man” tactics or attempts to cut corners to secure the release of vehicles impounded for serious traffic violations such as driving against traffic — an offence that attracts stiff penalties including possible forfeiture of the vehicle to the State.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Chairman only met the reporter during a Lagos State House of Assembly briefing and no exchange of phone numbers took place as claimed. In fact, in one of his earlier reports where he referred to “Sharks” on the road, he mistakenly attributed the activities of the BRT Monitoring and Enforcement Team on the Ikorodu BRT corridor to the Lagos State Taskforce — further demonstrating the misleading nature of his reporting.
Driving against traffic and other related offences remain strictly prohibited under Lagos State traffic laws, and enforcement will continue without compromise. The Lagos State Taskforce remains committed to safeguarding lives, preventing avoidable accidents, and ensuring orderliness on the roads across the State.
No amount of intimidation, blackmail, or other sinister attempts will compel the Agency to abandon its statutory responsibilities. Any motorist bold enough to drive against traffic must also be prepared to face the Magistrate in court.
While enforcement operations may sometimes appear strict or inconvenient, they are necessary to maintain sanity, safety, and public order on Lagos roads.
The Agency further reiterates that any individual who feels aggrieved by the conduct of its officers or management staff is encouraged to come forward with credible and verifiable evidence. Where misconduct is established, appropriate disciplinary measures will be applied in line with extant service regulations.
The reporter did not act in good conscience,.if he had acted in good conscience, he should have also condemned the flagrant disobedience to law prohibiting Okada from certain routes. He should have used his position as opinion moulder to enlighten, educate and encourage the violators to tow the line of best practices rather than as claimed caĺing the Chairman severally to release an offenders and subsequent transfer of aggression on the innocent Chairman and its officials.
We also urge members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to always investigate and balance their reports before publication in line with the ethics of journalism.
The Lagos State Taskforce therefore urges members of the public to disregard these false extortion claims, which are clearly calculated to mislead the public and incite unnecessary sentiments against the leadership of the Agency.
The Agency remains resolute in the discharge of its statutory mandate under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, working tirelessly to rid the State of criminal elements who attempt to exploit personal connections, godfatherism, social media influence, and unsubstantiated media reports to evade the consequences of their actions.
Gbadeyan Abdulraheem
Director, Public Affairs
Lagos State Taskforce
0 Comments