Journalist Slams N100m Suit On LASTMA Over Rights Violations

A veteran journalist, Osa Director, has slammed a N100 million suit on the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) before the state high court sitting in Ikeja over the violation of his fundamental rights.

Director, who is also a lawyer, in the suit Number ID/16108MFHR/2023,  demands the money as compensation for the damage he suffered when his car was seized by LASTMA officials.

He also urged the court to order the agency to return the sum of $1,700 and A52 Samsung Galaxy handset that got missing from his car after it was impounded.

In an affidavit filed alongside the suit, the applicant claimed that on August 24, 2023, his car was ambushed,  seized from him and driven to an unknown destination by two officials of LASTMA in company of two thugs dressed in police uniform.

He also averred that since that day, his Ford Edge SUV had been detained and kept in the custody of LASTMA in one of their car parks.

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The applicant said, “When the vehicle was taken from him, the sum of $1,700, an A52 Samsung Galaxy handset and other valuables, such as perfume and hand sanitisers were inside the vehicle.

“After writing a petition dated August 25, 2023, he was invited to LASTMA head office on Monday, October 4, 2023, after he returned from Abuja where he attended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference.

“At the head office of LASTMA, the provost marshal expressed shock and disappointment at the level of indiscipline exhibited by his officers, stating such is not tolerated by the authority.

“The provost marshal, however, insisted on both parties to visit the locus in quo (scene of the incident/crime) and also where the vehicle was parked.

“Unfortunately, the sum of $1,700 and the A52 Samsung Galaxy handset were no longer in the vehicle at the time of the visit. The vehicle search by both parties was video recorded by LASTMA.