The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has charged 12 officials with corruption and absence.
Adebayo Taofiq, the agency’s public relations officer, revealed this in a statement made accessible to the press on Friday.
According to the statement, while 11 police officers were found guilty of the claims leveled against them, the disciplinary tribunal cleared one officer.
According to Taofiq, the panel recommended a number of punishments, including immediate termination of appointment, rank reduction, and dismissal.
Bakare also stated that the public should stop bribing LASTMA officials and that cops who break the law will face harsh punishment.
The statement from LASTMA partly reads, “Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on Thursday, November 30, 2023, arraigned 12 officers before the disciplinary panel for various offenses concerning corrupt practices and absenteeism in line with the extant rules as guided by the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
“Mr. Bakare Oki confirmed that the panel recommended various punishments ranging from dismissal, reduction in rank, and immediate termination of appointment from the State Public Service.
“The acting general manager, who was equally part of the disciplinary panel, confirmed that while 11 officers were found guilty of corrupt practices leveled against them, only one officer was exonerated with the report of the panel.
“We hereby call on residents, especially the motoring public, to support the agency in the ongoing restructuring by promptly reporting any errant officers via any of the agency’s complaint hotlines with proof of evidence.
“The General Manager hereby warns all officers of the agency to always carry out their duties without fear or favor under the stipulated laws guiding the authority, as any operative caught in the process of bringing the agency or the government into disrepute shall equally face the consequence.
“While commending LASTMA officials for their dedication, dutifulness, diligence, and professionalism, Bakare Oki, however, warned the motoring public to stop inducing traffic personnel with bribes to avoid being prosecuted, as the law frowned on both the ‘giver and the receiver.”
