7 fake Local Govt officials arrested for extortion
By Anthony Okafor
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested seven suspects posing as Local Government Traffic officers, for extorting motorists on LASU– Igando Expressway.
The suspects identified as Taiwo Falodun, 48 (gang leader), Mukaila Atanda (48), Adedire Olaniyi (40), Chibuzor Eze (26), Akinseye Alex (48), Rasak Eko (50) and Aro Dotun (46) were arrested on Monday 27th, after police received complaint from one Professor Abdulraham Olayiwola.
iBrandTV gathered that the suspects who claimed they were on contract with the Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area in Alimosho Local Government, last week Thursday, extorted 41,000 naira from Professor Olayiwola for not speeding on the Expressway.
Victim’s account
According to Professor Olayiwola “I was heading towards Igando from LASU when the suspects, operating on Keke NAPEP forced me to park for not speeding. I was forced to drive to their hideout on LASU – Igando Expressway. While I was there, my vehicle was impounded and I was made to pay N41,000 before the vehicle was released to me the following day”.
“During my arrest, over 15 private vehicles and two commercial buses had been impounded by the miscreants and their tyres deflated.”
iBrandTV learned that some of the victims, who the gang also arrested described the activities of the suspects as illegal. One of them who declined to mention his name stated that the suspects demanded N30,000 from him for his vehicle not to be towed to Badagry, where he would be made to pay N75,000.
Police investigations revealed that many private car owners were paying cash, and through POS allegedly owned by one of the suspects.
Suspects account
According to Falodun, a dismissed Spy Policeman, there are three teams operating for Ikotun-Igando LCDA. We were engaged to work for the Local Government Council on contract.
Our team remits N20,000 weekly to the Local Council.
Recovered from the team were payment tickets issued to their victims ranging from N25,000 to N41,000 and one tricycle.