Segun Atanda/
A man who appeared to be driving more money than sense on Lagos Road may spend the next three years in jail if the law takes its full course.
Forty-eight-year-old Oke Onyeche was arraigned, by Lagos State Task Force (LSTF) officers, for driving against traffic.
Spokesman for LSTF, Mr Adebayo Taofiq told NewsmakersNG that the suspect appeared before Chief Magistrate Amos Olajuwon of the Lagos State Mobile Court at Oshodi.
Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, disclosed that the bullion van driver was arrested by the enforcement team of the Agency at Ogunusi Road, Omole bus-stop, Ojodu, in Lagos.
Egbeyemi said that he was surprised that with the level of enlightenment campaign by the government motorists, including private car owners, could still be driving against traffic without fear of imminent collusion with up coming vehicles.
Egbeyemi confirmed that majority of motorists apprehended for this particular traffic offence (One-way) were educated private car owner who ordinarily should have obeyed the law without any strict enforcement.
The Chairman urged motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers to desists from driving against traffic and obey different traffic signs conspicuously displayed by traffic officers particularly around Dopemu, Agege/Pen cinema, Apapa-Oshodi expressway, Mile 2 and other parts of Lagos.
Egbeyemi added that the construction of alternative routes for motorists across all local governments and Local Council Development areas of the state by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was meant to ease off traffic congestion in Lagos
He, however, confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Imohimi Edgal directed that the arrested bullion van driver be charged to court as nobody is above the law.
According to Egbeyemi, the CP also directed further that the Agency should be on the lookout for all unauthorised private vehicles using siren, revolving light and those covering their number plates.
“He emphasised that, these acts are purely illegitimate,” he said.
Onyeche said that he drove against traffic out of desperation to get to his destination on time and that he never knew that he would be caught.
“I want the government to please temper justice with mercy,” he said.
He added that the bullion van belonged to Integrated Cash Management Services (ICMS) and that he would never in his life drive against traffic.
Chief Magistrate Olajuwon adjourned the case to May 18, 2018 for ‘Facts and Sentence’ after the driver had pleaded ‘Guilty’ to driving against up-coming vehicle contrary to Schedule (1) Item 27 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 levied against him.
The prosecutors levied a 2-count charge of ‘Obstruction and One-Way’ against the accused.
Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Oseni Ibrahim, said the arraignment of the driver was meant to serve as deterrent to other road users, particularly those on essential services who flout the laws across the state.
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