Operatives of Lagos State Task Force, yesterday, impounded 68 commercial motorcycles and arraigned 14 operators over illegal and criminal activities.
The 14 were then sentenced to 10-hour community service each at government (public) facilities.
The operation was carried out in the early hours around 2nd Rainbow and Mile 2 area of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
Chairman of the agency, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, disclosed that illegal
activities of the motorcycle operators and report of criminal activities
against innocent members of the public prompted the actions of the
agency.
He stated that suspects were indiscriminately plying restricted routes
and robbing innocent members of the public of their valuables such as
mobile phones, bags and wristwatches.
The Chairman added that Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 by
Scheduled 1, Item 22 restricted motorcycle operators from plying 375
roads, which includes highways and bridges, across the state.
Egbeyemi noted that reports made to his office indicated that after the
day’s work, the ubiquitous okadamen engage in criminal activities,
robbing citizens particularly at Amuwo-Odofin area.
He confirmed that 14 of them were arraigned before Magistrate Lateef
Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court on the directives of the Lagos
State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.
Meanwhile, the 14 pleaded guilty after prosecuting lawyers, Adedoyin
Odukoya and Ajibola Olumide, read the one-count charge of “riding
motorcycles on prohibited routes as against Schedule (1), Item 22 of the
Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012” to them.
Immediately after their plea was taken, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi
confiscated the 68 impounded motor-cycles and sentenced them to a
“10-hour community service” each at government (public) facilities.
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