12th September, 2022
A mobile court in the city of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre has heard cases of 146 drivers accused of violating traffic laws.
The city’s traffic authority, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) brought the accused to the court seeking their conviction.
Bolaji Oreagba, the authority’s head said 77 offenders are being prosecuted for one-way driving.
Five offenders are facing a charge of wilful obstruction, five for illegal parking, two for unpainted commercial vehicle, five for wrongful overtaking.
According to him, four people are being prosecuted for driving on walkways/kerbs, six for BRT obstructions, 10 for reckless and dangerous driving, four for picking/dropping passengers at undesignated bus stops and five for disobeying traffic control officers, among others.
“It is disheartening that despite the state government’s vigorous public enlightenment and advocacy campaign via various media outlets, including online sensitization, on the dangers inherent in disobeying traffic rules and regulations, some recalcitrant drivers are still endangering the safety of other road users on Lagos Roads.” he said
He added that all those arraigned by the authority before the Lagos Mobile Court were found ‘guilty’ as charged after strong pictorial and video evidence tendered by LASTMA’s prosecution team.
Akerele Kehinde Oseni, a director who heads legal department in LASTMA, is upbeat that the prosecution of 146 drivers will serve as deterrent to other recalcitrant road users.